When I realized I could create a playlist on my Amazon Echo I became pretty excited. First, I named my playlist “Leslie’s Jam,” then I tried to figure out how to add songs to it. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Alexa, add “Lay, Lady, Lay” to Leslie’s Jam.
Alexa: I’m sorry, I can’t find “Lay, Lady, Lay.
(Now, I know this is a blatant lie. She plays “Lay, Lady, Lay” for me every morning.)
Me: Alexa, add the song, “Lay, Lady, Lay” to the playlist, Leslie’s Jam.
Alexa: Jam—a sweet spread or preserve made from fruit and sugar boiled….
Me: Alexa, stop.
Me: Alexa, add the song, “Lay, Lady, Lay” by Bob Dylan to the playlist Leslie’s Jam.
Alexa: I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.
Me: Alexa, forget about it.
Alexa: What would you like me to forget about?
Me: Leslie’s Jam
Alexa: Jam—a sweet spread or preserve made from fruit and sugar boiled….
Me: Grrrrr.
Finally I realized I needed to ask for the song to be played. and during that song tell Alexa to add it to my playlist. It took forever to add ten songs to Leslie’s Jam, but now it’s done. My next playlist is going to be “All About Rodeo.” Let’s hope Alexa is more cooperative this time around; although, it’ll be interesting to get her take on rodeos in general.
What does the word “smirk” convey to you? If a character in a book smirks at something said by another character how do you feel about the smirker?
Am I wrong to feel that “smirk” has a negative connotation? And what would be a more pleasant word to use when one character is mildly put off or even amused by another character’s words?
I need help here, because I don’t want to use the word “smirk,” yet all of its synonyms are even more off putting: simper, snigger, leer. Ugh!
I’ve been posting a lot of music-centric stuff lately-either because I’ve been garnering inspiration from certain tunes or just because it makes me happy. Regardless of how downright gritty or lonely our lives might be right now, music always has the power to lift us up and take us away for awhile.
When I post something about a group or performer, inevitably I’ll get a comment from someone who was fortunate enough to see that act in person. I’m always so jealous.
Growing up in the Texas panhandle without much money, I didn’t always have opportunities to see artists perform live. I’m grateful for the ones I did see: Huey Lewis and the News, Three Dog Night, the Cowsills, Foghat, Marshall Tucker Band, Garth Brooks, and The Chicks among others, but I’ll always wish I could’ve seen The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Chicago, and Justin Bieber. (Okay, I threw Justin in just to see if you were paying attention. I have no interest in seeing him; although, having once been a teen-aged girl, I get it his appeal.)
What group or artist have you dreamed of seeing live but never had the opportunity or the means to do so? What’s the best act you ever saw perform live? Did you ever do anything crazy to get tickets? I mowed lawns for two months to save up for Huey Lewis—and I was a grown woman.
Most importantly, do you think we’ll ever get to go to concerts again?
It’s 7:17 a.m., and I’m still in bed. Alexa is playing an Eagles’ playlist just for me, and I’m singing along. The cat has taken refuge in the hallway, watching me with a wary eye, while my bed has become my own private time machine.
I remember singing along to “Take it Easy” from the backseat of our family’s car when I was 16 or so, and begging my parents to not change the station to a country channel. And when “Witchy Woman” played, everyone had to be quiet so I could try to understand the lyrics. What was that woman up to? No good, that’s what.
A favorite Eagles’ song? I can’t name just one. That would be like saying I have a favorite child or grandchild, or even a favorite husband. But, I do know the songs I enjoy singing along with the most.
“I Can’t Tell You Why”—my voice blends beautifully into this one. At least in my mind. Reality is a different matter.