5 Great Love Songs for Rock Fans

Nothing melts my heart like a good love song. Especially a good ROCK love song. I’ll take  a good guitar solo and a rough-looking rock and roller over some Justin Beiber pop cheesiness any day.  Must be the lingering hair-band loving teen that’s still alive and well in my psyche.

So, what songs would I include if I were compiling a “Rock Love” CD?

1. “Everything Changes” by Staind

“Say that forever is more than just a word.”

Aaron Lewis is my favorite vocalist right now. I could listen to him all day long. The man has some pipes. That’s probably why he’s on my list of next ex-husbands. Which brings me to number two.

2. “Tangled Up in You” by Aaron Lewis

In this world
Where nothing else is true
Here I am
Still tangled up in you
I’m Still tangled up in you
Still tangled up in you

You’re the fire
That warms me when I’m cold
You’re the hand I have to hold
as I grow old.
You’re the shore
When I am lost at sea
You’re the only thing
That I like about me.”

Come on, what woman wouldn’t want a man to sing this to her?  It’s pure poetry.

3. “Far Away” by Nickelback

“Cause with you, I’d withstand all of hell to hold your hand.”

This is definitely a quality I’d want in a man.

4. “Broken” by Seether

“The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There’s so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain”

You get two great vocalists on this one.  Would definitely like to see these two do more duets.

5. “Lifeline” by Papa Roach

“We tore down the walls I built around myself
I was struck by the light and I fell to the ground”

Definitely not your traditional love song here, but who ever said (or thought) that I was traditional.  :)

So, there you have it. Five great love songs that melt my ever hardening heart.

Need some more great love songs? Check out the links below.

http://waldo2010.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/top-14-hard-rock-love-songs-for-valentine/

http://www.top-lovesongs.com/Songs/hard-rock-love-songs.php

An Award for ME!

Thanks to “An Author in the Making” for nominating me for the “Versatile Blogger” Award. Now, for this award, I have to do a couple of things.

1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post 

2. Share 7 things about yourself. 

3. Pass this award along to 5 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading. 

4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

Now a little bit about my self:

1. I’m a dog lover.

2. I left a career in education to have more time to write, and other reasons.

3. Criminal Minds is one of my favorite tv shows.

4. I love to people watch, to create stories for people I see.

5. I treasure my friends and my family.

6. I love to cook and play in the kitchen.

7. I want to publish something sometime this year.

My nominees:

1. Blame it On Disney

2. Live, Nerd, Repeat

3. The Sandwich Lady

4. Crone and Bear it

5. Drunk Good Idea/Sober Bad Idea

Crossroads #3, Grace

She hated him.

Every furious stroke of her bass guitar was for him. She glared at him. Famous? The small hole in the wall they were playing at could barely afford to pay them, and pay attention? The customers’ focus was on the college football game on the big screen.

“Go! Go! Go!…..Yes!”

Grace could feel the blood in her head begin to pound. Famous, my ass, she thought. He couldn’t keep his you know what in his pants long enough or the cocaine out of his nose long enough to practice, much less write a half way decent original song.

And she had fallen for him. For his dimples, and his bedroom brown eyes. She had believed him enough to pack her things, leave her parent’s house (as if she’d needed much of a reason), and move in with him.

Now she was stuck. She couldn’t go back home, and no real desire to do so anyway. At least with him, she didn’t feel like the proverbial square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Her Catholic parents had never approved of her love of music. Rock music? Oh, the horrors! She was going to straight to hell. Don’t pass go, don’t collect $200.

“Why don’t you try the piano?” they asked, “The church is always in need of a good pianist.”

“Stupid ref! Can’t you see that’s a facemask?”

Grace shook her head. Yeah, right, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous right here. How about the Not So Rich and Famous? She blew her long black hair out of her face, and kept playing. She would finish the set, collect her $200, and she was done.

Where would she go?

Away from him, that was for damn sure.

My New Site

As part of my resolution to write more, and actually maybe get published again this year, I’ve created a new site that will focus on being single. I’ll still write here, but it will be about my random musings on life and the occasional bit of fiction…..Check it out!

http://queenalishaslovebites.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/queen-alishas-love-resolutions/

Crossroads (Emily)

She was crying.

She was staring at a McDonald’s McRib billboard, stopped at a stoplight, she had tears streaming down her face.

The tears had nothing to do with the McRib, and everything to with the foreclosure notice sitting there on the passenger side. She hadn’t told Eddie yet.

Two more turns and she’d be home. Ten more minutes at the most.

What would she tell him? It wouldn’t matter really. It would all be her fault anyway.

She brushed a tear away and absently brushed her brown hair out of her eyes. She was tired. Bone tired, her mom would say. She had just finished her shift at the all night diner, now she had to squeeze in a couple hours of sleep before going to her classes at the small community college.

One turn, five more minutes.

What would she tell him?

He was going to be furious.

Last turn, the driveway.

She turned the car off, grabbed most of her tips and shoved them in her bra. Eddie wouldn’t look there. It had been a good night, better than usual, and she wanted to hide her hard earned earnings away.

She opened the door. She could already hear him snoring. She held the envelope in her hand. What would she tell him?

He was passed out on the sofa, the empty beer bottles scattered around him like bowling pins. Some up, some down. Eddie had never been good at bowling.

She glanced at the kitchen, at the dishes piled in the sink, the trash overflowing. The empty take- out boxes littering the counters and spilling onto the floor.

She was disgusted.

She glanced at Eddie again. Snoring so peacefully on the sofa, not a care in the world.

What would she tell him?

Emily walked down the hall. Without even thinking, she grabbed her suitcase. She packed a few changes of clothes, threw in her toiletries. Grabbed what little pictures and momentoes she had, tossed them in too.

Then, carrying, not rolling, the suitcase, she didn’t want to wake up Sleeping Beauty, she walked back down the hall.

What would she tell him?

She opened the envelope, threw the notice on his belly, and walked out the door.  

Crossroads #1

Carly was exhausted.

She rubbed her eyes and tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

“Dammit.” she muttered as she tried to blink her contact back into place.

“You okay?” her twin brother, Gage, asked, looking over at her from the driver’s seat. Even in the dark she could see the fatigue in his brown eyes.

“I’m okay. Just tired. Worried about Dad and Claire.”

Gage sighed, “Yeah, me too. The doctor said that Dad should be fine. The stroke was a mild one.”

“He’s going to hate having to slow down, you know.”

“I know.” Gage slowed to a stop in front of the apartment she shared with her fiance’ Richard. “You want me to go up with you?”

“Nah. I’m okay. I just want a bath and a bed.”

“Okay, call me if you need anything.”

She grabbed the handle to the door and slid out of the tall truck., “You know I will.”

Carly climbed the steps, feeling the fatigue like a weight on her whole body. They had gotten the call to go to the hospital as she, Gage, and Joey were closing the bar they owned. That had been at two this morning. Since then, the sun had risen and set.

Carly unlocked the door and threw her purse and keys on the counter. Sammy, her ancient and cranky wienie dog lay snoring in her bed by the couch. Carly noticed she’d pulled one of the blankets off the couch again to burrow down in.

Carly shook her head and gave a half smile. Her smile fell when she heard a noise from the bedroom, “Richard?” She thought he would still be at work. She hadn’t heard from him since she’d called him from the emergency room.

More muffled noises and a curse. A female voice.

A pounding sound began in Carly’s head as she approached the door, fury and apprehension mingled.

She grabbed the doorknob as the door opened. It was Richard, and behind Richard, next to the bed, HER bed, was a young blonde hastily adjusting her clothes.

“Carly…” Richard began.

She punched him in the face.

Walking in a Music Wonderland

Every year, I make a Christmas wish.  It’s usually something a little cheesy. Okay, so maybe a lot cheesy, it is ME we’re talking about. This year, I’m changing it up. This year, I want something real.  I want to give myself the gift of music and travel. After all, these ARE a few of my favorite things.

I want to go to music festivals. They’re outdoors, there are multiple bands, and you get a road trip with friends (The more the merrier.)  What festivals do I want to attend to have myself a merry little year?

1. Edgefest

I went to Edgefest a couple of years ago and LOVED it! The tickets weren’t outrageously expensive, neither were the hotel rooms, and you got to see some BIG names. Godsmack and Rob Zombie were the biggest, and I have to say Godsmack ROCKED that festival!

2. Austin City Limits Music Festival

http://www.aclfestival.com/

3.  Bonnaroo

http://www.bonnaroo.com/

4. Rocklahoma

http://www.rocklahoma.com/

This one is usually a hairband lovers paradise! And since it’s so close to my parent’s house, I really don’t know why I’ve never made this one.

5.  BayFest

(The beach AND music!)

http://www.bayfest.com/index.php

Last year, the line-up was awesome! You could listen to Korn on one stage, and hear a country music headliner on another. Perfect for my split-personality music tastes.

6. Voodoo Fest

http://thevoodooexperience.com/2011/

Why I haven’t been to this one yet, I have no clue! It’s only two hours away!

7. Jazz Fest

http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Same with this one! No clue why I haven’t been to this one either.

With so many festivals on my list, I know that it’s probably impossible to make it to all seven. Unless I win the lottery and can quit my job. Ooooh, how nice would that be? I could travel to all six and blog my little heart out! (Santa are you listening?)

Now, all I need is a music festival partner in crime. LOL…..Any takers? I’m now taking applications.

For now, it’s off to work for me. Someone has to finance all these road trips!

Peace! I’m out!

Keep Me In Mind

“How come all the pretty girls like you are taken baby?”

Joey winced as Carly sang along to the music. Carly couldn’t carry a tune if it were in the proverbial bucket.

“Keep me in mind”

Really, like he could do anything else. He had been a fool for her since seventh grade. She only saw him as a friend. And he lacked the courage to do anything about it. What if he lost his friendship with her?

He watched as she wiped off the bar tables, singing and swaying a little as she worked. Did she have a clue how nearly irresistible she was?

“Careful dude,” Gage said, “You’re going to need that rag soon for all that drool dripping down your chin.”

Joey narrowed his eyes at his friend. The three of them had been friends since middle school. They’d been inseparable then and still were. If you saw one of them, you almost always saw the other two. Even gone into business together and bought a bar. The money wasn’t great, but they liked the people they worked for.

Carly had finished wiping all the tables down. Over the past few months, the three of them had developed a closing routine that worked for them. Carly straightened the bar, Gage stocked, and Joey took care of the money.

“I think about you somedays
And the way I would lay and waste a day after day with you.”

Joey could definitely think of a few ways he would lay and waste a few days with her.

Gage smiled at him and went to the jukebox. He definitely had something in mind. Something that would make him horribly uncomfortable.

“If you ever wanted me, I’ll be your man”

That was the problem. He had no idea how she felt. Carly was always complaining about men. Why couldn’t she find the right one? Where were all the good men at? And his favorite, Why can’t I find a man like you, Joey? Really, like him? She could have HIM.

Gage finished up at the jukebox and came around behind the bar. He grabbed two glasses and filled them with a generous splash of Jack, and a little Coke. Joey and Carly’s favorite. Joey eyed him suspiciously. The three of them always had a drink together after closing. They had one drink, chatted about nothing in particular, then went their separate ways.

“Where’s yours, Gage?”

“Um, I made plans to meet that young gorgeous hottie for breakfast.” he grinned.
“Really?” Joey narrowed his brown eyes. Gage had never been a good liar. Although there was no doubt that his womanizing friend would be meeting some young hot thing later, it wouldn’t be for breakfast.

Gage grinned again as the songs switched from upbeat to slow and seductive. Perfect for dancing. With Carly. Especially since the song just happened to be one of Carly’s favorites. Usually she grabbed up Gage to dance with. This time, Gage gave him a wink and slipped out the back door. Leaving him alone. With Carly. And the seductive strains of a Country song.

(This was inspired by the writing prompt…”Take the first line of your favorite song and write a story using it as the first line. ” I just added in three of my favorite characters. I think I’m going to do a series.)

Have MYSELF a Merry Little Christmas

A few years ago I started this quest. All I wanted for Christmas was a real good man. How silly of me to think that I could find such a thing in such a short time. Not that I don’t think there are good men out there. I know there are good men. I just can’t seem to find MY good man.

 

I remember when I was on this quest to find a good man and I sent out a test text with a Happy Thanksgiving message. I analyzed, journaled, and analyzed again the responses I got. Man, I spent waaaaay too much time on that. Of course I didn’t get a response from the one person I wanted. That would’ve been too easy. My book would’ve been written. Or finished, anyway. 

 

Four years later, the book is still pretty much unfinished. I still haven’t found my real good man. And at this point, I’ve really stopped looking. I’ve been through the All I Want for Christmas is The Right Man, All I Want for Christmas is No Man, and this year, I’ve decided that All I Want for Christmas is ME.

 

In the last few years, I’ve been to hell and back multiple times. Now, I just want to enjoy the calm after so many storms. I want to sit on my porch with my dogs, a cup of coffee, and a good book. I want to enjoy time with the multitude of friends I’m so blessed to have. I want to be thankful that I have a job I love going to again, with all it’s new challenges and new responsibilities.

 

That’s what I want for Christmas. Not a man. I want to have MYSELF a merry little Christmas. I want to take small moments every day to appreciate myself, my new life I’ve created for myself (without a man), and my many blessings.

 

That’s the best Christmas present I can think of. The Queen finally treating HERSELF like the Queen she is.

 

For now, I’m out! I have a porch, a cup of coffee, and a good book calling my name.

 

Peace!

 

 

 

Giving Thanks

It’s that time of year again….No, I’m not talking about turkey, I’m talking about thinking about what it is that we’re thankful for. What am I thankful for?

1. Being happier this year than I was last year. I’m happier with my surroundings, with my job, with MYSELF….

2. The wonderful friends and family I have that helped me achieve #1…

So, that my friends, is what I’m thankful for the most this year. For now, I’m off to enjoy a good glass of wine and a day of pampering myself.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m out!