Monday, July 6, 2015

The Soundtrack of My Life, Who's Knocking On Your Door? (and BoTB Results)


First up, Battle of the Bands results. The song was I Believe It (Delicious Surprise) and the contenders were Beth Hart and JoDee Messina. How did you guys vote?

Beth Hart: 8
JoDee Messina: 16

As for me, my vote is for JoDee Messina. So, my vote doesn't change anything but extend the margin of JoDee's win. I simply love her version of this song. I love it best kicked up to max volume riding down the road and singing at the top of my lungs. But, that's just me. All I really want now is a handful of salvation! I believe it!

If I didn't vote on your Battle this time, do not despair. I'm not boycotting you. I'm just Super Busy visiting relatives (who I don't see but once a year... maybe) and my Internet time has been severely limited. Vacation and blogging don't go so well together, but things will be back to normal come mid-August.



So, what was the first big surprise of junior year?

J1 came back. Yep, shocked me into speechlessness (and that doesn't happen often!).

I was living off campus with Jennifer the Second and some of her sorority sisters. School just started, and I was trying to lose this strong southern accent I picked up after working all summer with Louisiana people. I'm horribly empathetic and will adapt other people's accents (obviously) amongst other things. So, there's this knock on my door and it's J1. Yep, he tracked me down.

I know that you guys are dying to see him, so I'm going to share a couple of pictures. Just know that it wasn't all smooth sailing (as you might expect). We actually had a rough take-off. I think that sometimes happens when your gut is telling you "this is the real thing." That stuff is scary.

Here we are:




You know this is Serious Romance. Not everyone gets a TRAIN song... plus the lyrics are PERFECT.




When you met your first (possibly only) Big Love was it smooth sailing? Or did you take a few steps forward and back before things really started to roll?

If you're enjoying these posts, feel free to share your own Soundtrack. This isn't a hop. No requirements at all, but a suggestion to do it one song at a time. (If you participated in the hop several years ago, you can still do this. Just post them one song at a time, with the freedom to add more songs if you'd like.) I'll link to all participants at the bottom of each of these posts:

StMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Cherdo on the Flipside 

Holli's Hoots and Hollers 

THE DOGLADY'S DEN

48 comments:

  1. Good stuff and lovely photos, they musts bring so much good memories for you. Nice of you to share. Have a great week!

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    1. These were the best of times... and the worst of times...

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  2. I was friends with my wife before we ever dated, so once we started, things went rather smoothly. Of course, she had to ask me out because I was way too shy.

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    1. Hahahaha. I've heard it said that the woman actually chooses the man. He only thinks he's the one doing the choosing...

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  3. Love that big hair! Ooohhh and a Train song is serious girl. My first Big Love did not work out and it's a good thing. I have seen a recent pic of him on FaceBook and he looks like one of those pervs living in his parent's basement.

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    1. Yikes. Well, my first love didn't work out either (obviously). He married someone else has and has two beautiful children, so I guess it all turned out like it was supposed to!

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  4. Cute photos!! So this is weird, I seriously was listening to my ipod this morning and two of Trains songs played. Drops of Jupiter and Cab. I love Train! Did you know they also have a wine? Yep and its good.
    Hope you're having a wonderful vacation! Don't even worry about commenting. Just enjoy yourself unplugged.

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    1. I love love love Train. If you check my sidebar at the top there's a link to posts by "features." My Train feature was hijacked by this one, but I'll get back to it!

      Yes, I did know that they had a wine. I do believe it's why they featured wine in this video...:)

      Thanks. I'm having a great time so far. Camp is in two days!!!!

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  5. Hi, dear Robin! "Big Bird" Shady here. I am surprised at the outcome of your band battle. I thought Beth Hart's was definitive and JoDee's was the "menu." It really shocks me that the contest wasn't even close.

    I have a cuddling theory. Contrary to the pop culture stereotypes, I think a lot of men prefer a woman who likes to cuddle. Based on the body language in these pictures, it seems like you were a good cuddler and maybe that's one of the reasons why J1 tracked you down. I also have a theory about sleeping together - actual snoozing, fully clothed. If two people have a deep rapport and are comfortable enough to fall asleep in each other's arms, it's a very good sign that the relationship will last. The other type of sleeping together, the one involving sex, is not a reliable indicator of relationship longevity.

    The three major love relationships I have had in my life all started very smoothly and went down hill from there. :)

    If you are already in Ohio I'm glad you made the trip safely. It's a steam bath here in Florida with near record high temps! Enjoy your getaway, dear friend Robin!

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    1. The battle was strange in that it leaned heavily Beth for a while and then swung the other way. Oh well. I would've liked it closer, but I think it was still a good one.

      I don't know about the cuddling theory. I think all people have the potential to be "cuddlers." I think we cuddle up to the people we REALLY like and not so much with the ones we're only lukewarm about... or think we SHOULD like, but we don't. I've been in several of those relationships (stay tuned!) and they didn't turn out so well, either.

      Given my single status, I'd say that my relationships haven't done any better... a

      Yep, I'm in Ohio (busily moving around the state visiting family and friends). Camp begins on the 8th!

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  6. My husband and were friends first. We dated for a while but when it got serious, I ran for a bit. Then looked behind me and saw who was standing there and knew, if I lost him, I would have blown it forever. Thank God, I turned around.

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    1. I'm glad you turned around, too. It's really painful when you realize something that could've been wonderful has been blown forever.

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  7. I find the comments about "friends first" fascinating as that has never moved beyond friendship for me.

    For the biggest love of my life, we were friends first (although I had feelings very early on) and the relationship failed miserably when we tried to move past friends.

    After a decade or so, we tried again, and met the same dismal result. I am not sure she ever really saw us as much more than friends, and doubt I was as significant to her as she was to me.

    Now she is happily married (or so I am told). Maybe it was just me.

    My relationships all seemed to start very tenuously and then fall apart from there.

    I perfected that process to the point where I officially retired from the game a few years back-any further attempts to ruin relationships would simply be repeating the mistakes of the past-I did not feel I could further innovate in that area.

    Larry

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    1. Your comment made me chuckle... I think my sense of humor is a bit warped. On the one hand, I'm sorry you've given up on relationships. On the other hand, I totally get it. Why continue when it's all turned out so horribly????

      I've decided at this point to invest in making me the healthiest I can be (mentally, emotionally, physically, and SPIRITUALLY). That way, no matter what happens I'm happy with ME.

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  8. The one I thought was my first real love turned out to be too needy of having his ego stroked. I learned later that I intimidated him though at the time I was totally unaware of it. You looked so happy in those pictures.
    Susan Says

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    1. It's exhausting being with someone who needs constant stroking. Probably for the best that one didn't work out.

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  9. I've never had luck with the big fireworks kind of love. Those always fizzle. My husband has always been a good friend. Even after twenty years he still is.

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    1. I'd say that it all turned out as it should for you:)

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  10. GIRL WONDER ~
    Well, you've certainly had some handsome men in your life (even if they didn't work out).

    Beautiful car in the video (but the word "viral" should NEVER be used in a song lyric!)

    In my most important romance, it was mostly smooth sailing. There were a couple rough spots, but they were truly just spots, as in we got through 'em in a day or two.

    Say, what's J2 up to? Maybe she and I could get sumpin' goin', what with us both being Mensa-donkeys an' all.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. Yep, StMc, I've been lucky in that both J1 and J1 were good looking on the outside and the inside. They weren't perfect (and I wasn't either), so we managed to mess it all up royally, but they were both good people. I wish I could say that about ALL of the relationships that came after, but I can't.

      Hahaha to the "viral" comment. I thought rhyming spiral and viral was pretty clever:)

      I don't see you and J2 working out. Sorry 'bout dat.

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  11. BIG is a relative term... what was big for me rarely turned out big for the other person.

    One time I asked out a girl I knew for years and got, "But what will people think?"

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    1. What will people think???? Wow. I guess that was the clue to move on...

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  12. Husband and I took lots of steps forward and backward before we started to roll :)

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    1. Yeah, most of my relationships... check that, ALL my relationships have been rocky. I'm the queen of Rock.

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  13. It was eerie just how well my wife and I clicked when we first met. Many throw the term "soulmate" around, but I truly believe it was the case with us.

    Great pics and I like the idea of a soundtrack for our lives :)

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    1. I'm glad you both knew it when you had it. :)

      You can do your own version of this. Just let me know and I'll add your name to future posts. I'm not going to be around much in July (at camp) and the first bit of August. But after that...

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  14. Hi Robin,

    A rough take off with a smooth landing. Such delightful photos of you two.

    Not much in the way of smooth sailing with the lady I thought was the ONE. Sadly, her traumatic past, full of abuse, haunted her throughout our relationship. Her past tore us apart and I felt helpless. Yet, no matter what, I somehow believe I've become a better person for it. I wish my ex a happy life in her ongoing, hopefully better adventure.

    Take care, Robin and apologies for my continued absence in the blogging world.

    Gary :)

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    1. I wouldn't say a smooth landing. This relationship was fairly rocky, particularly the first few years. And then it was tough for different reasons at the end. It took me a very long time to figure out the Ins and Outs of why it all went wrong... and my participation in the demise.

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  15. Hey, Jo Dee won! I've got a 50/50 BOTB split too!

    I love people too much to inflict love on them! Nuff said.

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    1. Dixie, you crack me up. Some people thrive in relationships. Others don't. It's okay to live in either camp, so long as you accept where you are with grace. And I think you do!

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  16. You were a gorgeous couple. He kinda looks like Sean Cassidy did, only cuter.

    The one and only soundtrack of my (lack of) love life would be Lookin for Love in All the Wrong Places.

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    1. Thanks Robyn.

      Maybe you need to rethink your song for your love life. Maybe something like Goodnight My Someone....

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    2. Haha. Good point, Robin. It's a bit self-destructive of me to keep singing that ole tune.

      Have a great weekend.

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  17. I know how that vacation/blogging thing can go. Actually I was surprised you managed this post. But I've been on more than I might have expected as well.

    All of my loves have been "big" loves for at least a while. I strive more for the consistent love that has more practicality than fireworks. Then again I'm a pretty subdued sort of dude.

    Good battle and the best version won in my opinion. Then again I'm biased with that fiddle in the song.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    1. WELL.... I wrote everything that will post until mid-August before I left on vacation. I knew I wouldn't have time to write posts during this time. I just left space for things like BoTB results.

      Didn't want you to give me "credit" where it wasn't due.

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  18. I like this Train song! My only big love was mostly smooth sailing. We just sort of fell into it and there were a few loose ends, but it worked out. Since then it's been a-OK for the most part!

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    1. I still haven't experienced smooth sailing, but I think I'm getting healthier... which increases my odds (in the future) dramatically!

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  19. I've mentioned that I've been married twice...or, as I like to say, the 1st and the LAST. Of all the people I ever dated, I married the worst match the first time around. What was wrong with me? The second time, neither of us wanted to get married. We were through with that mess...but we did get married and we've been together twenty years (dated for 7!!).

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    1. Well, I can't answer your question. My one and only marriage was a disaster. We just haven't gotten there YET.

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  20. Glad to know you and J1 reconnected! You were a good looking couple. ☺ Hubby and I have been married for 42 years and there have been many rocky periods, but in the end, it's about how badly you want to stay together and make it work.
    Looks like my girl Beth got creamed in the battle. Oh well....Congrats to JoDee.

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    1. I suppose you're right about that. I think you have to Really Want It AND Be Willing To Work At It to keep it together.

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  21. Both were talented singers so it was great battle.

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  22. Both were talented singers so it was great battle.

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  23. Thank goodness JoDee Messina won. I thought Beth Hart really made a mess of this song.

    Something interesting I've found in life, in mine anyway...people always come around again. Even some of those that you wish wouldn't. If there is any sort of connection at all, I always seem to, at the very least see them again. Often that 'see them again' is a great big 'thank God for unanswered prayers'.

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  24. Yes, I helped decide another victory.
    As for my first love, I fell into it too quickly and married five months later. As you may have guessed, the marriage wasn't the very stable and she left 13 years (exactly) to the day we got married. Longer than some marriage last these days, true, but I was trying to make things work. Oh well, live and learn.

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  25. I'm sorry that happened. It's tough when you work so hard and it still doesn't work.

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  26. I am so glad to know I am not the only one who picks up accents easily!! It took me a few months to shake off the US accent I picked up when I returned from living in the USA for 8 months when I was younger.
    On the topic of Big Loves. They are always hard work and always worth it. Great post and story Robin <3

    Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are.

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Dazzle Me!