Feeling Good

Still squee-full. Sang this a bit with Tom coming home, he knows it because of Muse. I know it because of jazz. So I checked out the Muse version and it's pretty coo...


Muse - Feeling Good




The version that I have goes like this...


My Brightest Diamond - Feeling Good





I know I should sleep, and I will... you can ruin something with too much of a good thing. So goodnight, goodnight. A thousand times goodnight! (in case you didn't get the reference)

:P

Cathrine

Kitty

So today was fantasticness. Church in the morning was a big affair with "Back to St John's Day". We had a church full of people and a nice lunch afterwards, got to sit at a table with my peeps. It was nice to have morning church with some of the evening church people. :) Afterwards I found Tom and had such a grand time in Chatswood with him. He is one fun dude.

We made our way back to St John's for evening church and had a few games of table tennis before and after the service. So much fun to be had. I whooped butts. I didn't realise I still had my table tennis skillz. So this could be the start of something beautiful... church + table tennis matches with the young people who come in the evening. w00t!

Anyway. Driving home Kat and I were singing random songs. This one came up. Fun.



The Presidents of the United States of America - Kitty




Fun all 'round today. :)

Cathrine

Don't Stop Me Now

I like Queen. A lot. I love singing along. *grins*


Queen - Don't Stop Me Now





Have a good Saturday people!

Cathrine

They

So work today was okay. I kept looking at my watch and saying, "only x!" The day did eventually end and I had maybe a little (tiny) amount of patience left over. I had to stop myself a couple of times, take a couple of deep breaths, and then start again. I felt bad for getting grumpy, I saw the hurt in a couple of kids eyes... like "Cathrine, why are you snipping at me?" Aww! Sorry guys!

But all the while I had a couple of kids with hearts of gold. Chilling out with my shadow today was cool. We sat on the rock and took a break from sweeping the sand. I chatted to her like a friend - told her that I had a friend called Tom who was my age (not sure how Tom was brought up in the conversation though). She asked me if I was 5 or 4 or 3? I told her I was 23 and that he is 23 too. She then looked me in the eyes and said "You have brown skin, why?" LOL Bless her! So we chatted about my mum having brown skin so I have brown skin. I love her so much.

Anyway... I feel as if I can hold my own in crazy situations and the craziness doesn't bother me unduly anymore. I'm glad for that. I think it will put me in good stead for not hitting burn out too early on. :P Plus, I can calm the crazy down.



Jem - They




Who made up all the rules
We follow them like fools
Believe them to be true
Don't care to think them through

And I'm sorry so sorry
I'm sorry it's like this
I'm sorry so sorry
I'm sorry we do this

And it's ironic too
Coz what we tend to do
Is act on what they say
And then it is that way

And I'm sorry so sorry
I'm sorry it's like this
I'm sorry so sorry
I'm sorry we do this

Who are they
And where are they
And how can they possibly
know all this
Who are they
And where are they
And how can they possibly
know all this

Do you see what I see
Why do we live like this
Is it because it's true
that ignorance is bliss

Who are they
And where are they
And how do they
know all this
And I'm sorry so sorry
I'm sorry it's like this

Do you see what I see
Why do we live like this
Is it because it's true
that ignorance is bliss

And who are they
And where are they
And how can they
know all this
And I'm sorry so sorry
I'm sorry we do this



So I'm a bit blah at the moment. I could probably listen to a stack of RnB and just forget for a while. Might link up some of the lame stuff I'm subjecting my ears to.


112 - Peaches and Cream
Jagged Edge - Let's get married (remix)
Nelly - Ride Wit Me
Usher - U Remind Me


There you go. I'm glad I left those days behind. :P

Cathrine

Living In A Tree

I have some really awesome friends. For serious. Kat just sent me this song. I heart it so much.


Priscilla Ahn - Living In A Tree





Today I talked to my small group about where paper comes from - trees. <3 I did this because we are doing the whole 'reduce, reuse, recycle' thing in our room with the children because they are tending to go through a lot of paper, without a thought to using it carefully. So we're talking to them about drawing on both sides of the paper, saving scrap paper and recycling the paper that can't be used or saved. It's encouraging to see them using the language and thinking about recycling. One girl this evening was putting our staff recycling in the big blue paper recycling bin when she noticed that only one side of the paper had been printed on, so she said we should save it for drawing on. I love this girl. She is my golden child and for her to say that, I could have cried. *laughs* I was so proud of her.

So it's small, but it's really really good.

I showed them pictures from a book Jason gave me for my birthday called "If Trees Could Speak" about trees from around Australia. I showed them eucalypts that are golden in the sunset and had them admire their beauty, so they could link in what they're doing with what they're saving. I know eucalypts aren't really used for paper-making, but it's the principle. Trees are beautiful, don't make us cut them down needlessly.

My kids at group times today too were really pretty good. I used to despair of getting them all to focus at one time in order to do anything with them, but now it's a lot easier and I'm a lot more confident. We made the letter Q with play dough... all eight of us; us three year olds. And I was just going to do the big Q but they really wanted to do the little one too... ^_^ Go for it. :)

I enjoyed hanging out with the kids this afternoon making things with the Mobilo. I often don't just sit down and play Mobilo with them, but I got down and was asking them to show me things and I showed them things and gave them ideas. I find it really funny that when girls play Mobilo they often make their cars into gender specific toys so that they can play "mums and dads" still. Like "I'm the baby car, you can be the mummy car". <3 Funny kids.


Anyway. :)

Trees are beautiful.

Cathrine

Laughing With

"God can be so hilarious - ha ha, ha ha"

Regina Spektor - Laughing With



So Regina Spektor has a new single - Laughing With. I don't know what to say about it. I read this review and tend to agree with her comments on it being less than impressive. However, I like the idea of the song and I like the ending too. Laughing With.


My man (the man) sent me this link. A clever video clip for a cool little song.


Firekites - Autumn Story





<3

Cathrine

The One I Love

Just a gentle little track...


Rosie Thomas - The One I Love





<3

Cathrine

Another Saturday

I had a dream on Saturday morning about not belonging because I was a Westie on the North Shore. When I woke up, I still felt as if I didn't belong. It's tempting to fall into that and feel sorry for myself. It must be possible to have an identity separate from where you live, except that where you live does really influence who you are whether you like it or not. Living on the North Shore now has changed my thinking. I'm not snobby or pretentious but I'm no longer confronted with poverty on a daily basis and the choices people make when they have limited education or means. So I've become comfortable. Instead of feeling struggle all around me, it's ease and luxury that I'm surrounded by. I only notice the change in my thinking when I go out West again and am reminded how the other half live.



Stuart Murdoch - Another Saturday





When I was growing up, I remember riding my bike to the local bush reserve and tearing around the bush trails. It was a lot of fun going down slopes at almost dangerous speeds. I remember being proud when I could ride my bike up to the waterfall without stopping - the hill was so steep and high. I remember the blacksmith and that he wrote my and my brother's name on the top wooden post of his shack. I really wonder if it's still there. I'd bet it would be. I was probably 14 at the time. Nearly 10 years ago. I used to light fires in the bbqs. I used to catch guppies with bread in my hand. I wish sometimes that I still was connected to my past. I feel there are definate stages in my life, mostly from moving house and having to make adjustments to each new environment. In the process, I leave pieces of myself behind. I wish I could take all the best bits with me. The bush of the West; the huge, wide skies; the memories. The pubs and cafes of the Inner West, the easy access to the city, the indie atmosphere. Now I'm here and I wonder what I'd want to keep with me if I had to move again?


I'm just making problems from where there are none. Really, I'm lucky to be where I am and it's good that I don't live in the West anymore. I'll listen to some more Belle and Sebastian, do my laundry and angst over nothing while I get stuff done.

Laters

Cathrine

One (Blake's Got A New Face)

I have too much new music, so much that I have to make multiple posts in a day. This song makes me smile. This line made me go out and buy darjeeling tea. :)

English Breakfast tastes like Darjeeling
But she's too cute to even ask

It does kind of taste like English Breakfast, but only in that it's the better and more yummy version of it. :P


One (Blake's Got A New Face) - Vampire Weekend





Meow

Cathrine

Electricity

"Beautiful like breaking glass not yet broken"


Something For Kate - Electricity





This song reminds me of a boy in science class in high school, who was burning a glass rod over the bunsen burners until it cracked a little from the inside... or maybe he dropped it and it fractured a little... anyway. He gave me the piece of glass and told me it was beautiful, like me. *laughs* I was a little younger than him - maybe year 9 to his year 10 - and I was flattered. So I kept it. I kept it for ages, and maybe I still have it... but I was flattered because it really was beautiful and interesting to look at. I thought it really was like me, broken but not quite shattered and somehow still beautiful.


:P


Ah dear. Waking up to sad dreams puts me in a strange mood...

Cathrine

Elephant Gun

At work, the kids sometimes try and get around the anti-gun rule by making 'machines' (that kill people). Kinda missed the point there.


Anyway. Music for silly late nights.


Beirut - Elephant Gun





The dancing in the video clip is amazing.

Cathrine

Because Of You...

On the bus coming home I was thinking about how people have influenced my musical tastes. I was realising how many bands I wouldn't know if certain people hadn't entered my life and left their musical footprints behind. Only the most awesome people influence my musical tastes... mostly I'm a bit of a music snob (unintentional!) and won't really care what you're listening to - I'll just assume I have better taste than you. :P Thanks to all of you who have given me so much music. :) I enjoy finding music for myself, but it's special discovering music with others...



If it wasn't for Tom, I wouldn't know:

Antony and the Johnsons
Adele
Alexi Murdoch
Bob Dylan
Damien Rice
Jolie Holland
J J Cale
The Mountain Goats
The National
Tom Lehrer
Sarah Blasko
Nick Cave



If it wasn't for Kat, I wouldn't know:

Mirah
SoKo
Sia
Cold War Kids
Angus and Julia Stone



If it wasn't for Jason, I wouldn't know:

Keith Green <3
Jason Robert Brown
Nickle Creek
John Farnham (thanks :P)
Phil Collins (thanks, I think? :P)
Elton John (it just gets worse doesn't it? :P)
Sergei Rachmaninoff

(was there more?)



If it wasn't for David, I wouldn't know:

Charlie Parker
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Art Tatum
Albert Ayler
The Lost Cosmonauts

(and I wouldn't know I love crazy, psychadelic 60s music)



If it wasn't for Mark, I wouldn't know:

Led Zeppelin
Deep Purple
Cream
Van Halen
Iron Maiden
Pink Floyd
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Yngwie Malmsteen
Nirvana
The Tea Party


So yeah. :)

Cathrine

What a day....

I'm drinking tea now to cope. Work today was trying... and I think I failed a lot. I know these days are unavoidable. Not every day will be calm and awesome...

To cope also, I've been diving into a bit of music. I googled 'free music' and found a few nice tracks for free. :) This one is nice... you can download it for free too. Just click the orange button that says "MP3" under his photo to start the download. :)


Alexi Murdoch - All My Days


Meow.
I'm not in the mood for much at the moment...

Cathrine

Sick Muse / Bapa

My eMusic monthly subscription kicked in again today - so that's another 30 tracks for $18. I have already bought over half my quota. :) Some of the gems include:

Daddy Cool - Eagle Rock
Little River Band - Help Is On The Way
The Ides of March - Vehicle
Nickle Creek - Smoothie Song
The Moody Blues - Tuesday Afternoon
Horse Feathers - Finch On Saturday
Horse Feathers - Untitled
Metric - Sick Muse
Vampire Weekend - A Punk
Vampire Weekend - M79
Holly Golightly - Mother Earth


This is a pretty great song.


Metric - Sick Muse





I also bought two albums. Carla Bruni (quelqu'un m'a dit) and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (gurrumul). I wanted Carla for her own sake and for the sake of my kids at work. :P I'm going to put it on during rest time occasionally. I found Geoffrey through Tom's last.fm. He's an Aboriginal musician from Arnhemland and unlike so much Aboriginal music... it doesn't grate on your ears. :P It's not commercialised either. I think his music is gentle enough to be used as rest time music also for the children at work. :) See what I mean:


Geoffrey - Bapa



The aim of today is to have a relaxing day... a lot of the ingredients necessary are there: It's raining, I have the place to myself, and I have lots of new music to enjoy. :)

Later,

Cathrine

Hide and Seek

Today was great... we had a calm room in the morning and everyone was into the activities Megan and I had set up. :) What a blessing!

On the bus ride home I listened to this song and it was beautiful. It's dark at night when I go home and I felt I could slip into the music and just enter a different world, outside of work.



Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek





where are we?
what the hell is going on?
the dust has only just begun to form
crop circles in the carpet
sinking feeling

spin me round again
and rub my eyes,
this can't be happening
when busy streets a mess with people
would stop to hold their heads heavy

hide and seek
trains and sewing machines
all those years
they were here first

oily marks appear on walls
where pleasure moments hung before the takeover,
the sweeping insensitivity of this still life

hide and seek
trains and sewing machines (oh, you won't catch me around here)
blood and tears (hearts)
they were here first

Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmm that you only meant well?
well of course you did
Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmmm that it's all for the best?
of course it is
Mmmm whatcha say?
Mmmm that it's just what we need
you decided this
whatcha say?
Mmmm what did she say?

ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs
speak no feeling no I don't believe you
you don't care a bit,
you don't care a bit

(hide and seek)
ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs

(hide and seek)
speak no feeling no i don't believe you
you don't care a bit,
you don't care a (you don't care a) bit

(hide and seek)
oh no, you don't care a bit
oh no, you don't care a bit

(hide and seek)
oh no, you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit



Today though... there's a toddler, who I was with last year, who I love... and it's just so touching that she still loves me back. hehe She always finds me in the outdoor area when toddlers and preschoolers play together and is always excited that I'm in the toddler room in the mornings and afternoons when we come together again. I don't even deserve her affection, I hardly spend time with her in the grand scheme of things and pretty much all my old toddlers have forgotten me, but she hasn't. We were tight last year and I miss her still and so there are heaps of cuddles that get given still when I do see her, but really... I'm so unworthy of her affection. I know it sounds really lame... I think sometimes I'm developing (or already had :P) the mentality of a three year old, so that I get really involved in their lives. What they think and do and say really matter to me...

Anyway. Better head off... listen to the song, it's beautiful. It's kind of sad though, so don't take that into account. There are silver linings to all the dark clouds in my life - and more so.


Cathrine

Grace

This morning Kat and I were in the car to go to church and Grace by Jeff Buckley was playing on the radio. I love it when a good song just starts when you turn on the radio. It's somehow so much more special then just putting a CD on and choosing the song yourself.



Jeff Buckley - Grace





Grace is something that I have an abundance of at the moment... it is by grace that I have been saved, of this I am sure. I saw better after today how unworthy I am of God's blessing and love. It's a wonder that God is still with me... it's a wonder that God is still with us all. I look at how time after time the Israelites in the Old Testament disobeyed God and how he still continued to care for them and love them and bring them back into relationship with him (though often this still involves judgement and unavoidable suffering). God's still doing it. For a wonder, he loves us that much.

We're the only people he has, he's the only God we have. We're stuck with each other... there isn't anywhere else for me to turn, God doesn't have any other people to love. He will go to the ends of the earth to bring us into relationship with him...

I love the nature of God. He is perfectly holy and righteous but also perfectly loving. I wouldn't want a God to be any other way... I don't want a fake God who is so fluffy and forgiving that his love is really just license to do anything I want. I don't want a harsh legalistic God though either, who has unattainably high expectations and standards that make me despair of being good enough. Instead I have a God who makes every effort to encourage and support me in times of trouble. He doesn't take away hardship - he transforms it. He doesn't take away the striving - because he is still a holy God - but he bridges the gap and sends his very self to live within us and help us to become more like him. What more could you ask? He is a perfectly holy and perfectly loving/caring God.


I think I'll leave these rambling thoughts there.

Cathrine

The Way I Am

I love that feeling when things just fall into place. I liken it to being able to sing and not strain for the high notes. Today wasn't what I wanted it to be, but it was all that it should have been. Sometimes I want to do more than I am able... but today I did what I was supposed to, I think. Got to work with Br Ned, rested at home for a bit, did my laundry, prayed with Kat in the evening, watched The Castle :P on TV and had a few giggles with her. I feel at peace at the moment.

Things are work are becoming clearer and I can see my place in it. I am seeing prayers answered, I am seeing hope and feeling peace and joy. What more can you ask for? I am grateful and thankful.

I like this song... It makes me smile.


Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am





Night,

Cathrine

Tracy Chapmen and Co.

So at work, we call arrowroot biscuits 'babies' or 'baby biscuits'... I'm not sure how they got that name. Someone once suggested to me that it's because these biscuits can be crushed up into a baby food-like mash with water or milk. I dunno. It's just one of the quirks of working with children in my centre. I think of this now as I eat an arrowroot biscuit and reflect on how odd it would be to call them baby biscuits outside of my work context.

Last night Tom and I were talking music and we came up with some amazing songs. They kind of fit into two categories - African American singers and incredible 70s rock classics. I'd like to share a little of what we listened to... it seriously blew my mind.


Tracy Chapman - Fast Car




Macy Gray - I Try




Alicia Keys - Falling






Meow... More later.

Cathrine

Jackson Pollock

Next week is "P" at work for the letter of the week. Our new teacher wants to explore painting with the kids in lots of different ways to get them into painting again. The easel has been ignored for the past month by our kids and so I'm looking for ways to jazz it up. I'm thinking Jackson Pollock. Yes sir. <3

And I'm looking him up on Wiki (as you do) and it says that "In 1960, Ornette Coleman's album "Free Jazz" featured a Pollock painting as its cover artwork." Yes sir! Nice call. Little things like that just make me want to dance.

Might tune into 88.5 FM tonight and catch some of David's jazz. Haven't done that in ages...

Laters,

Cathrine

Not Fair

So I heard this song on Triple J a little bit ago and looked it up on YouTube. I have only just gotten what the song is about. Too freaking awesome.


Lily Allen - Not Fair





Oh he treats me with respect,
He says he loves me all the time,
He calls me 15 times a day,
He likes to make sure that im fine,
You know I've never met a man,
Whose made me feel quite so secure,
He's not like all them other boys,
They're all so dumb and immature.

There's just one thing,
That's getting in the way,
When we go up to bed your just no good,
It's such a shame,
I look into your eyes,
I want to get to know you,
And then you make this noise,
And it's apparent its all over.

It's not fair,
And I think your really mean,
I think your really mean,
I think your really mean.

Oh your supposed to care,
But you never make me scream,
You never make me scream.

Oh it's not fair,
And it's really not ok,
It's really not ok,
It's really not ok.

Oh your supposed to care,
But all you do is take,
Yeah all you do is take.

Oh I lie here in the wet patch,
In the middle of the bed,
I'm feeling pretty damn hard done by,
I spent ages giving head.
Then I remember all the nice things,
That you ever said to me,
Maybe I'm just over reacting,
Maybe you're the one for me.

There's just one thing,
That's getting in the way,
When we go up to bed your just no good,
It's such a shame,
I look into your eyes,
I want to get to know you,
And then you make this noise,
And it's apparent its all over.

It's not fair,
And I think your really mean,
I think your really mean,
I think your really mean.

Oh your supposed to care,
But you never make me scream,
You never make me scream.

Oh it's not fair,
And it's really not ok,
It's really not ok,
It's really not ok.

Oh you're supposed to care,
But all you do is take,
Yeah all you do is take.

There's just one thing,
That's getting in the way,
When we go up to bed your just no good,
It's such a shame.
I look into your eyes,
I want to get to know you,
And then you make this noise,
And it's apparent its all over.

It's not fair,
And I think you're really mean,
I think you're really mean,
I think you're really mean.

Oh you're supposed to care,
But you never make me scream,
You never make me scream.

Oh it's not fair,
And it's really not ok,
It's really not ok,
It's really not ok.

Oh your supposed to care,
But all you do is take,
Yeah all you do is take.



:P

Cathrine

Dameon-inspired love...

So I'm lame. And I don't care. I'm in love with characters from books sometimes with such a deep, intense passion. I love the Fool (from Robin Hobb's books). I love him. Just do. I love Dameon (from Isobelle Carmody's Obernewtyn Chronicles) too. He is beautiful. He blows me away with his tenderness and the selfless nature of his love for Elf. What does this have to do with anything? Well, today at work I had a moment.

A few of my kids were falling off the climbing equipment and 'dying' by lying still on the ground. Then they'd get other kids to poke them with sticks to prove they were really dead because they wouldn't move. I offered that maybe one of the children wasn't dead, but just asleep like the "princess from long ago" in the song. I sang a bit of it and then suggested I tell them the story about the princess who went to sleep for "a hundred years". We piled into the wooden boat and I told them the story of sleeping beauty, but with the twist that Isobelle Carmody uses (was it in The Keeping Place?). In the twist, Dameon is cast as the prince and manages to get past the thorns around the big, tall tower by empathising/singing to them... he enchants the thorns into moving away from the door. It was awesome. I'd never tried to tell a story without a book or props of any kind before... I think I nearly swooned when I had their full-full attention when I described how prince after prince tried to slash through the thorn to no avail. And it was only the gentle prince, who came not with violence but with love and music to entreat her to allow him to come to her.

Dameon is blind, he's an empath... but he's strong, upright and humble. If ever I had the fortune to know such a man, I would never be worthy of their love if they were foolish enough to love me. I'm too firey and crazy and forceful. In that way, I think he and Elspeth are not a good match, though I do not doubt his love or the rightness of it. I know it's a little silly to be so involved in these characters, but I suppose I'm not really, I just have history with them. They've been my companions for so many years that in a way they are almost real to me...

Anyway, the kids were really into the fact that the princes rode up on horseback and so many of them wanted to be horses in the story that we had to change it a little and give our hansome prince a carriage so we could have six horses ride up with him. It was fun having them act out the story while I told it. It shows how engaged they were in the story... I love little dudes. I will tell them another story tomorrow. Beauty and the Beast perhaps? :) I love these fairy tales. As soon as you say "Once upon a time... long, long ago" you have their attention until you say "And they lived happily ever after". *laughs*

The opera went down well. They cracked themselves all the way through "Figaro" and we contrasted that fast paced, male vocals to the slow, kind of sad singing of a female singing in Carmen. It went well enough. A lot of them were stunned, one boy said "What the heck?" :P He's going to grow up into one classy, cultured dude.

So I dunno... I don't have a lot of music to share. Dr Worm was on Triple J when I got home, so that way cool. <3 This song fits my mood now too. Fun times. I saw these guys live at the Annandale Hotel last year... too awesome.



Bedouin Soundclash - St. Andrews





Love,

Cathrine

Sunday

I don't know what day I'm looking forward to now. Tomorrow? No. Friday? Possibly. Saturday? No. Sunday? No. Monday? Definately not. Sigh. I've had this song in my head all day/night...



Sia - Sunday



For those who've slept
For those who've kept
Themselves jacked up
How Jesus wept
Sunday
Sunday

For those in need
For those who speed
For those who try to slow their minds with weed
Sunday
Sunday

For those who wake
With a blind headache
Who must be still
Who will sit and wait
For sunday, to be monday

Yeah, it will be ok
Do nothing today
Give yourself a break
Let your imagination run away

For those with guilt
For those who wilt
Under pressure
No tears over spilt milk
Sunday
Sunday

Sunday
Sunday

Sunday
Sunday

Yeah, it will be ok
Do nothing today
Give yourself a break
Let your imagination runaway

Yeah, it will be ok
Do nothing today
Give yourself a break
Let your imagination runaway



I think it's beautiful and haunting...

So my emotions do kind of drive my thoughts and I wish that wasn't the case. I feel old and tired and strung out. I laugh when I want to cry. I accept that which I do not want. I still need to make that CD for tomorrow's opera. I listened to the Madame Butterfly CD from the previous post and now I'd like to see the opera performed. It's tragic and beautiful.

Highlights of the day = a random conversation with two bus officials selling tickets on Castlereagh street because buses on George, Pitt and Castlereagh streets are now all prepay; giggling through the cheesy scenes in the new Star Trek movie; eating a lemon tart from Bourke Street Bakery; the moon and how she looks like someone's eaten a bit off her, or maybe flipped a cloak over her shoulder.

Mostly I'm cry. Silly emotional me. I should go to bed...

Night,

Cat

O is for Opera

We're up to the letter 'O' at work for our language group time and so we're doing things that start with the letter 'O'. I want to do opera with the kids and just see how they respond. It might be a flop, but I don't think so. If I present it in a really fun and enthusiastic way... I think it'll blow their minds. So I was looking online for some opera that I could download that would be suitable for children and I found the perfect resource and it's totally free and legal to download.

Check it out.

So I'm kind of excited! Just deciding what pieces to use...

Ah and while I was youtubing 'opera' - I found this and it makes me smile. I like The Marriage of Figaro and this opening scene is all kinds of yay. :)





:)

Cathrine

Two Weeks of Music Mix

Let's see if I can do this thing.


Two Weeks of Music Mix

01 Nouvelle Vague - Blue Monday
02 Moody Blues - Tuesday Afternoon
03 Emiliana Torrini - Wednesday's Child
04 Matt Costa - Sweet Thursday
05 The Cure - Friday I'm In Love
06 Horse Feathers - Finch on Saturday
07 Sia - Sunday
08 Little River Band - Home On Monday
09 The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday
10 Simon and Garfunkle - Wednesday Morning 3 A.M.
11 Donovan - Jersey Thursday
12 EasyBeats - Friday On My Mind
13 Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
14 U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday



Success!


<3

Cathrine

I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Hi... work made me a little sad, though the day was good... it was good because Sandra was there and I know we won't have her regularly anymore so... I'm sad. I want to be positive and I will definately not give up, but what do I do with the disappointment that I feel? Throw it into music...?



Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into the Dark





and Lucy posted this and I have to say, it's a gorgeous track.



Ben Gibbard - A Lack Of Color




Ben Gibbard is from Death Cab For Cutie... and I think maybe I should listen to more of their music. These songs are love.

Today two of my girls made a collage of a tree using leaves, bark, rocks, etc found outside and it was a work of art. And my Red Group were beautiful with making freshly squeezed orange juice. Seriously, they made me so proud of them with how well they listened, waited, took their turn, and just got into the fact that orange juice is fun and awesome. :P And my special girl, my shadow, made me chocolate using all kinds of awesome leaves, berries, nuts and other things we could find around the sandpit but also added a few mint leaves from our herb garden. :) She is precious. I delight in her and she just dances before me under the glow of my delight. haha

So for the sake of the few, I am pleased. I wish many other things were in place, but I'm doing my part and I'm doing it well. That other things aren't in place is something I can help work on but can't fully bear the responsibility and guilt for.

I'll leave my thoughts there...

Cathrine

Hottest 100 of all time

I've linked up some of the songs with music videos. Woo! Thanks Kat for hooking me up with this list. It's pretty sweet! :D


Hottest 100 of all time:
In 1998 the Hottest 100 of all time as voted by you were:


1 Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
2 Hunters And Collectors - Throw Your Arms Around Me
3 Pearl Jam - Alive
4 Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
5 Radiohead - Creep
6 Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven
7 Metallica - One
8 Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
9 Metallica - Enter Sandman
10 Pearl Jam - Black
11 U2 - One
12 Marilyn Manson - Beautiful People
13 Radiohead - Paranoid Android
14 Nine Inch Nails - Closer
15 Violent Femmes - Blister In The Sun
16 Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
17 Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name Of
18 Living End - Prisoner Of Society
19 Faith No More - Epic
20 Blink-182 - Dammit
21 Live - Lightning Crashes
22 Pearl Jam - Better Man
23 U2 - With Or Without You
24 Tool - Stinkfist
25 Soft Cell - Tainted Love
26 Nick Cave/Bad Seeds - The Ship Song
27 Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl
28 Smiths - How Soon Is Now
29 Jeff Buckley - Grace
30 New Order - Blue Monday
31 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
32 Ben Folds Five - Brick
33 Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet with Butterfly Wings
34 Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
35 Faith No More - Ashes To Ashes
36 Whitlams - No Aphrodisiac
37 B-52's - Love Shack
38 Beastie Boys - Fight For Your Right
39 Stone Roses - Fools Gold
40 Smashing Pumpkins - Today
41 Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
42 Andy Prieboy - Tomorrow Wendy
43 The Whitlams - You Sound Like Louis Burdette
44 Beastie Boys - Sabotage
45 Nirvana - Lithium
46 Blur - Song 2
47 Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Should've Come Over
48 Tool - Sober
49 Beatles - A Day In The Life
50 Jebediah - Leaving Home
51 REM - Everybody Hurts
52 Ben Folds Five - Underground
53 Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
54 Radiohead - Karma Police
55 Offspring - Come Out & Play
56 Pearl Jam - Rearviewmirror
57 Tool - Forty Six And 2
58 Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
59 Silverchair - Tomorrow
60 New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
61 You Am I - Berlin Chair
62 Nirvana - Come As You Are
63 Led Zeppelin - Kashmir
64 Cake - I Will Survive
65 Eagles - Hotel California
66 Cure - Love Cats
67 Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK
68 Hunters And Collectors - Holy Grail
69 Janes Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
70 Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
71 Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
72 Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug
73 REM - Losing My Religion
74 Cure - A Forest
75 Portishead - Glory Box
76 Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over
77 Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O Mine
78 They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul
79 Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star
80 Offspring - Self Esteem
81 Blind Melon - No Rain
82 Jebediah - Jerks Of Attention
83 Silverchair - Abuse Me
84 Nick Cave/Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
85 Cure - Just Like Heaven
86 Spiderbait - Buy Me A Pony
87 Nirvana - Aneurysm
88 Grinspoon - Just Ace
89 Cure - Close To Me
90 Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
91 Metallica - The Unforgiven
92 Pauline Pantsdown - Back Door Man
93 U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
94 Cold Chisel - Khe Sahn
95 Prodigy - Breathe
96 Nick Cave/Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand
97 Beck - Loser
98 Cure - Boys Don't Cry
99 Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
100 David Bowie - Heroes



Meow.

Cathrine

Doctor Worm

On my way to Tom's place yesterday this song came on the radio in the car. Oh how do I love Triple J and their crazy music! I hadn't heard it but Kat cranked it and we rocked out to it (kinda). lol So much fun!


They Might Be Giants - Doctor Worm





Oh, and they also did this funny little song...


They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)




So life is pretty fun at the moment. :D And church this evening should be a lot of fun also... can you believe I'm saying this for what I know will be a lengthy talk about Leviticus! *laughs* If you can make Leviticus fun, you can make anything fun. :D

<3

Cathrine

The Magic Position!

This song has been in my head all day... It's cheeesy as can be and I should hate it but I lovelovelove it! I can't get enough of it's crazy bouncy fun. It makes me clap and dance and act totally lame. I love it. :D



Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position




The lyrics are great too. :)


So let the people talk
It's Monday morning walk
Right past the fabulous mess we're in
It's gonna be a beautiful day
So do the bluebirds sing
As I take your hand
And you take my kiss
And I take the world
'Cause out of all the people I've known
The places I've been
The songs that I have sung
The wonders I've seen
Now that the dreams are all coming true
Who is the one that leads me on through

It's you
Who puts me in the magic position, darling now
You put me in the magic position
To live, to learn, to love in the major key

And I know how you've hurt
And been dragged through the dirt
But c'mon get back up
It's the time to live
So give your love to me
I'm gonna keep it carefully
Deep in the treasure chest below my breast
'Cause out of all the people I've known
The places I've been
The songs that I have sung
The wonders I've seen
Now that the dreams are all coming true
Who is the one that leads me on through

It's you
Who puts me in the magic position, darling now
You put me in the magic position, darling now
Let me put you in the magic position, darling
'Cause I'm singing in the, the major key

Fweee~

Cathrine

To Be Alone With You

So I like some Sufjan Stevens, definately not all, but I like this song. People says it's about Jesus and I don't know if that's true. Either way it's a beautiful song.


Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You




And in keeping with this Christian-esque theme, here's another song that I love.



Sarah Blasko - Woman By The Well




"I just want you around". It's such a fragile plea. And the song has this gentle, melodic sway that makes listening to it/falling into it so easy.


I'm going through my music collection again... deleting the tracks that I don't own and writing the ones that I want to keep on my 'to buy' list. The list is over 400 tracks long so far. :P But that doesn't hold a candle to the 10 gigs of music I actually own. I made a committment to not to own or download music illegally from January last year, which I have kept with varying degrees of enthusiasm since then. At the outset I refused to delete any of my Led Zeppelin or Regina Spektor for fear I wouldn't be able to find it later - some of the more obscure tracks in particular - but I've deleted those. It's funny how we hold onto the last little piece of what is "mine" even while trying to do the right thing. I think it's characteristic of a lot of my life - not fully surrendered.

I have a lot of music already... and I can wait for what I want but don't currently have. I still definately buy CDs and I love the feeling of opening the plastic wrapping around a new CD and reading the cover notes and admiring the album art. :) I do download from iTunes and eMusic but you can't beat getting an album you've wanted for ages on sale for $10 after hunting for it for ages... best feeling! :)

Anyway...
Another day off work, because I'm losing my voice. I went in yesterday for a half day until I could get a replacement... A child told me I sounded like I had the voice of an old woman. I love kids. They tell it like it is.

Salut,

Cathrine

Worthy?

I think part of why I write in here is to feel in some small way that I matter, that what I think/feel/do is important. The blogger's joy is the gratification in knowing other people think what you have to say is important too. People who bother to read your crap are saying that it's not really crap... (to some extent, some people will read anything :P). But I was thinking today while doing some cleaning that this attitude is misguided. ('of course it is' you say, but it's a common trap.) I read a girl's 'about me' section on a blog and was struck by how she worked so hard at crafting the perfect description of herself. It made me think how much it really matters - what other people think of us through the words we write online. Would she be any less awesome if she had written a less than awesome 'about me' section? Nope. She would still be herself. It made me realise a little more fully that every single person here on Earth is important, in a way that goes beyond our little efforts to prove it to other people. The smallest, most insignificant person is still infinitely valuable in God's eyes. For a moment, I could hear a little voice saying that 'by no effort on your part you are loved and highly valued by God'. I think we are a little blase about life, but I was reminded today that all life is precious and is not valued by our standards but by God's, who loves us despite all the failings that we have.

For all our bad points... God was pleased to create us. Some days I wonder why on earth he bothered with me. I can do such dumbdumb things and then I will beat myself up for them and by so doing add dumb to the dumbdumb. It's what I do. But sigh. Life is more than this tiny box I've put myself in. Life is truly precious... It's not something you need to hear everyday, because I think I might get tired of it and it would have the opposite effect. But now and again, it's nice to be reminded.... to sit and marvel at all that life is and means. To be able to enjoy God's creation - this beautiful world, to be able to work and create things with our own hands. It's a gift.


But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)


I think it's another thing too that I actually do hear too much of - God's love. It can become blase, it can become something you skim over to get to the more interesting parts. But when really faced with God's love, I have no other course of action but to be humble and love him in return... it's the beauty of the relationship. He gives so much, so that I desire to give in return out of my gratitude.


Anyway... Night.

Cathrine

Beauty - Demotivators

I like this.





Because it's true.

:P

Cathrine

January Rain

I've reached the point where I'm sick, but I'm no longer suffering. It's a little late, since I go back to work tomorrow. It would have been nice to have an actual day off to enjoy but can I really complain that my first real work day will be Thursday?

I made myself a to do list, as I do... it's funny. I never want to do what is immediately needed doing, but will at least want to do one of the things on the list, so by the end of the day everything is done.

This song is enchanting. I wish I could capture a little of it's simplicity and inject it into my life. A little of it's peace. That would be nice.



David Gray - January Rain





So yeah, not a lot to say. I like having the place to myself. :) It's nice and quiet.

Cathrine

Random Tracks

I'm browsing Art of the Mix and finding random tracks. Here are some notables:



Coconut Records - Summer Day



(Check the crazy vocals in the middle - sounds almost French, but's just babbling. :P)



Holly Golightly - Slowly But Surely



(I love that organ sound... so good.)




Her Space Holiday - Sleepy Tigers



(was this song used in an ad? It's happy!)



Elliott Smith - These Days (Nico cover)



(I don't listen to Elliott Smith too much these days, but this song is raw. It's just the thing Elliott would have written himself...)

I'd been out walking
I don't do too much talking these days
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things I forgot to do
And all the times I had the chance to

I quit my rambling
I don't do too much gambling these days
These days I seem to think a lot
About the many changes that came my way
And I wonder if I'd ever see another highway

I had a lover
I don't think I'd risk another these days
These days and if I seem to be afraid
To live the life I have made in song
It's just that I've been losing so long

I've quit my dreaming
I won't do too much scheming these days
These days I sit on cornerstones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten

Please don't confront me with my failures
I have not forgotten them



Music. Je t'aime.

Cathrine

Kiss Off

An awesome song.


Violent Femmes - Kiss Off



I need someone, a person to talk to
someone who'd care to love
could it be you could it be you
situation gets rough then I start to panic
it's not enough it's just a habit
hey kid you're sick well darling this is it

you can all just kiss off into the air
behind my back I can see them stare
they'll hurt me bad but I won't mind
they'll hurt me bad they do it all the time
yeah yeah they do it all the time
yeah yeah they do it all the time
yeah yeah they do it all the time
yeah yeah they do it all the time

I hope you know this will go down
on your permanent record
oh yeah well don't get so distressed
did I happen to mention that I'm impressed
I take 1 1 1 cause you left me and
2 2 2 for my family and
3 3 3 for my heartache and
4 4 4 for my headaches and
5 5 5 for my loneliness and
6 6 6 for my sorrow and
7 7 for no tomorrow and
8 8 I forget what 8 was for and
9 9 9 for a lost god and
10 10 10 10 for everything everything everything everything

you can all just kiss off into the air
behind my back I can see them stare
they'll hurt me bad but I won't mind
they'll hurt me bad they do it all the time
yeah yeah,yeah they do it all the time
yeah yeah,yeah they do it all the time
do it all the time
do it all the time
do it all the time time time
yeah yeah they do it all the time


If you don't know it. You should. :)
"EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING!" <3

Cathrine

Months of the Year Mix

So I'm sick at home and I was wondering to myself if I could make a mixed CD using each month of the year in the title of the track. I did. lol I tried to use songs that I actually liked too. I found some gems. I sort of cheated with the Neil Diamond track, but I love the song too much not to care. The song the album is from is called Hot August Night. hehe The video is rockin' though, so check it out. It reminds me of those old days listening to 2WS when I was a kid.

The David Gray track is beautiful and a nice way to start a CD. Rod Stewart makes me smile now because Tom's played a few of his songs to me recently... and that Deep Purple song is one I hadn't heard before.



Months of the Year Mix

01 David Gray - January Rain
02 Josh Groban - February Song
03 Iron Maiden - The Ides Of March
04 Deep Purple - April
05 Rod Stewart - Maggie May
06 Bright Eyes - June On The West Coast
07 The Decemberists - July, July!
08 Neil Diamond - Hot August Night
09 Carole King - It Might as Well Rain Until September
10 Evanescence - October
11 Guns N Roses - November Rain
12 Regina Spektor - December



Back to bed for me,

Cathrine

Ma Mere / Chelsea Hotel #2

My mum told me that she wanted me to be myself when we go to the Philippines - to speak my mind and not be shy. LOL I know what she means. In the Philippines that is not a good trait to have and I may be tempted to conform to their expectations. You're expected to be quiet, shy, reserved and show respect to your elders by not speaking against them. It makes me laugh that mum says "just be yourself" so they "can meet the real you"... and who is the real me? She is upfront, blunt, questionably rude or disrespectful at best.
Don't you love mums?

Just in case I was under the illusion that I'm a nice person, or well, a kindly spoken person... mum is here to remind me that it's not so and it hasn't really ever been so. :P I used to be a lot ruder towards her when I was a teenager. Maybe it's the rebellious thing teens like to do, or maybe it's because she's gained back a lot of the respect she lost when I was a kid so I'm as a result much nicer towards her? heh Or maybe I should give more credit where it's due - God helped me forgive her and has helped a lot in that relationship.

Anyway.


So I was sick and as I slept/rested in bed I listened to Leonard Cohen. A funny state to experience his music in... I remember it in pieces. I loved so many of the songs, for varied reasons. This is one of many I could post...



Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel #2




I love the way he tells stories in his lyrics.


Night friends.

Cathrine

Sick - Plus/Minus

Plus/Minus

- I cooked tandoori chicken for dinner tonight but because I'm sick I can hardly taste it.

+ I found a full version of Beasts and Bumpkins and have been using my time off work to play it. I loved that game as a kid. So much reminiscing.

+ I have a really awesome director who organised off me to leave work early because I was sick and really supportive coworkers who didn't bugrudge me taking the day off.

- I left work early and miss my kids - I wanted to see them give Sandra her thank you card. And the morning had begun so well, I wanted to continue building on those things they were doing.

+ I went to sleep when I got home and drempt that I was still at work (I kept just missing the bus and having to stay another hour.. and then another hours - lol). It was really fun and so I got to imagine hanging out with my kids and talking to my director about a couple of ideas I have for things.

+ I was complimented by Sandra today - she said I was a professional, which is something I've been striving towards lately. *grins* I respect her a lot, so that meant alot.

- I'm going to miss working with Sandra a lot.

+ But I've learnt a lot from her and I'm keen to step up and fill her shoes and support our new teacher in her role also. :)

- I'm sick. It's not fun to swim in a sea of tissues.

+ I don't have to go back to work till Thursday. heehee


That should be enough. :)

Into My Arms

I've posted this song before... in February actually... and it was because Tom recommended it to me. :) I want to post it again. I read a few YouTube comments that compare Nick Cave to Leonard Cohen. Makes me wonder. I can see why they'd say that. I wonder if I should listen to more Nick Cave. I should if the rest of his music is as good as this.


Nick Cave - Into My Arms





Today was pretty incredible.

<3

Cathrine

Quiet Mix

So... there seem to be a lot of songs for my current mood. Why not make a mix?



Quiet Mix

Mirah - You've Gone Away Enough
Neko Case - I Wish I Were The Moon
The Lucksmiths - What You'll Miss
The Lucksmiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Counting Crows - Colorblind
Elliott Smith- Angeles
Bon Iver - Babys
Justin Vernon & Aaron Dessner - Big Red Machine
Leonard Cohen - Famous Blue Raincoat
Antony and the Johnsons - Free At Last



I don't think I'll link them to videos... you can do youtube searches if you like.
It's time for bed soon.

Cathrine

Intuition?

A friend of mine is blogging about intutition and emotions/feelings being the way women think and make decisions. It made me smile. The song lyrics below, for me illustrates the unsubstantial matter that emotions are sometimes made from.

My trouble with everything always is nothing's just right
Just to figure out nothing could keep you awake half the night



The niggling sense that things are not 'just right'... for me usually signals a greater underlying turbulance. I meet that with either music, painting, writing or something like that to express/explore/expunge that feeling but most times it doesn't help. Instead now I take my hurts and disappointments to God. I don't know if there is any other true balm out there beyond God. I haven't found a better one.


Things are not just right...


But it's just the way you are you don't have to be afraid
The way you look at the stars and how you think that they were made
The motion will never stop turning the night into the day
You've gone away enough when will you decide to stay


I like the above lines... When will I decide to stay? I long to be consistantly devoted to God. To rely on him and not be afraid and know that he has everything under his control and is always seeking to bring me closer to him - if only I'd stay; abide in him.


I have to get ready to go. My Saturdays are once again filled with ministry and I'm glad to be of service. I don't like to be idle. Meow.

Cathrine

Ada

New music. I love the instrumentation.


The National - Ada





Ada don’t talk about reasons why you don’t want to talk about reasons
why you don’t wanna talk
Now that you got everybody you consider sharp
all alone, all together, all together in the dark
leave it all up in the air
leave it all up in the air
leave it all up in the air

Ada put the sounds of your house in a song
try to be speechless for a minute
if you think you gonna faint go out in the hallway
let them all have your neck
Ada don’t stay in the lake too long
it lives alone and it barely knows you
it’ll have a nervous breakdown and fall
into a thousand pieces around you

Stand inside an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth
waiting for Ada
Ada hold onto yourself by the sleeves
I think everything counts a little more than we think
leave it all up in the air
leave it all up in the air
leave it all up in the air

Ada Ada Ada Ada
Ada I can hear the sound of your laugh through the wall

Ada don’t talk about reasons why you don’t want to talk about reasons
why you don’t wanna talk
now that you got everybody you consider sharp
all alone, all together, all together in the dark
leave it all up in the air
leave it all up in the air
leave it all up in the air

Ada Ada Ada Ada
Ada I can hear the sound of your laugh through the wall
Ada Ada Ada Ada
Ada, I’ve been hoping you know your way around




Cathrine

So Winter is next month, FML.

Today was full of 'what on earth?!' Kids who normally behaved themselves were just uncontrollably crazy or terrible listeners or just... acting out of character. I was shocked. I was out of the room for only an hour to program - instead of two... Rebecca was out of the room during the morning... Sandra was there to be her awesome self... so where did it all go wrong? Blah.

I got to organise the puzzles in the store room though, which is something. :P I'm tired now, and feeling kind of crazy. This music fits my mood... Badly Drawn Boy - you are crazy.



Badly Drawn Boy - Cause A Rockslide




Meow.

Cathrine

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit....

Oh so long ago, Angie used to start each new month with 'rabbit, rabbit, rabbit' in her online journal. Kind of a good luck thing. It makes me smile to think of her now.

I think I've found the 'middle of the night' quiet. I slept unintentionally from 10pm or so and woke at 12.30am. It puts me in the mind of Camille's "Winter Child". Plus, it's now the offical start of Winter - though I think it really began a week or two back. We had an early cold snap. While walking home this evening it was cold, but almost pleasantly cold if such a thing were possible. Here are a couple of Winter tracks to start the month/season off...



Tori Amos - Winter




and


Camille - Winter's Child





<3

Cathrine