Piper of Love's Page

If you can believe this, I was just thinking the other day that it's been a really long time since I've been tagged for a meme. For a while there me and most of the bloggers I know were getting tagged right and left, and it was exhausting. My last meme was in January and I didn't exactly mince words about being annoyed by it, in fact I launched a revolt.

However, when my wonderful friend Jennifer at Just Jiff tagged me recently, I was surprisingly happy about it. A meme is the perfect thing to lift the heavy vibe that's been happening around here, and that's very welcomed right now. So, onward now to the Six Unspectacular Quirks Meme.

Six Unspectacular Quirks (says who?)

1. I'm convinced that I hear music differently than everyone else. I hear every part, every beat, every instrument, every word. I hear them individually, and then I hear them together, and I do this unconsciously most of the time. There are songs that I will listen to over and over and over, and never get tired of because the energy, and magic, and emotion I feel in them never stops amazing me. Sometimes I ask people 'do you hear that?', and most of the time they don't. I feel sadness for them.

A few of these songs are:

- Incinerate / Sonic Youth
- Natural Beauty / Neil Young
- Mr. Tambourine Man / Bob Dylan
- There Goes My Baby / The Drifters
- May This Be Love / Jimi Hendrix
- Soul Meets Body / Death Cab for Cutie
- Toes Across The Floor or Walk / Blind Melon
- Gypsy / Fleetwood Mac

2. I sleep on my stomach because I don't like the weight of blankets on my toes.

3. I find an odd sense of accomplishment in popping blackheads... on other people. I don't do it often, possibly because I don't have a boyfriend who's back I can tackle. But, the next lucky stud who lands me is in for a real treat, because I'm very gifted.

4. I really only like to do things I don't have to do. I might be jazzed about doing something, but as soon as I feel obligated then I don't want to do it.

5. I have an unbeatable memory, for pretty much everything. Except for the things like math facts, which bore me.

6. I take pictures of what I'm watching on TV.



And now, the piesta de resistance, I get to tag six poor souls and fill them with guilt if they don't do this meme. I hereby tag:

* Deb of Missives From Suburbia - because she thinks I looked hot in mom jeans.

* Jenny of Mommin' It Up! - because cleanliness is next to Godliness, and she made sure I would be clean (and shaved) by sending me a huge box full of personal hygiene products she magically happened upon.

* Carie of Our Crooked Tree - because neurotic as she may be, her quirks are nothing short of spectacular, and I love her.

* Ed aka Zoe's Dad - because he's groovy and I dig it.

* James of Daddy Shack - because if he's not quirky then no one is.

* PG of Annoyingly Boring? - one word; payback.

My mom took us to the Cowboy Hall of Fame yesterday... er, um, I mean the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. My entire life the place was called one thing, then they changed it. Sure, the new title more accurately defines the place, but this doggie can't be taught new tricks very easily. It's called the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and that's that.

We had a wonderful time. If you find yourself in OKC, this place is a must on your to-do list. Here's why...

This is the Trail of Tears statue that stands at the entrance, and it's breathtaking. If you aren't up on your American history, and don't know what the Trail of Tears is, read about it. This statue is so massive that you can lose your kids on front of it.

There is so much to see, and so much to do, but very little of it can be photographed. Museums are kinda rigid like that. I'm an outlaw though.

There's a whole separate building for kids, and my boys enjoyed the saddles. Jackson is sitting on the tiniest saddle I've ever seen. Since there wasn't a sign to explain, I speculated that this saddle was like an old school car seat. 'This is how the pioneers hauled their babies around,' I told them.

This killed me, my heart stopped and broke simultaneously. Clearly, I'm never going to be able to get away from the Teton's, even in Oklahoma.

If you don't know who Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry are then I can't help you. I do wish I had that guitar though.


The highlight of the day for me was seeing the Prix de West show. The Prix de West is the most prestigious invitational art exhibit there is for western artists, but for me it was yet another trip down memory lane.

When I lived in Jackson Hole I was privileged to work for Trailside Galleries. This gallery hosts many shows for several artists showing in Prix de West. While I can't say that I know these artists, I can say that I have met them, and seeing their stunning works again just thrilled me to pieces.

I wasn't supposed to take this picture, which is why it's blurry, but I had to have proof for my blog fodder.

Don't try explaining 'blog fodder' to an elderly museum security guard though, it doesn't translate.

Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.