Kirsten's musings...

High School songs

It's Guys' Weekend time, which means another music list.  This year the guys are supposed to identify three songs that were released during their high school years that have significant meaning to them.  For our annual trip to Vancouver Jim and I listed 10 songs from our respective high school years for discussion during the trip.  Here are my songs, from Fall 1981 to Spring 1984, in no particular order:

Duran Duran "Rio"
Actually the first Duran Duran song I heard was "Hungry Like the Wolf", but I didn't really like it.  Still not one of my favorites.  Then I heard "Rio" and saw the video, and I was hooked on this band.  I've seen them in concert three times so far, and always up for seeing them again.

Journey "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)"
Speaking of concerts, most people know that Journey (with Bryan Adams opening) was my first rock concert, and still one of the best I've attended.  I know this song is the subject of a lot of derision, especially for the cheesy video, but it's right up my alley.  Great one to sing along with.

Bow Wow Wow "I Want Candy"
I don't think anyone in my high school was quite ready for this song, but we took to it quickly.  Always a favorite "fast" song during dances, all of us pony-ing along with the upbeat tempo and suggestive lyrics. 

Rick Springfield "Jessie's Girl"
Sigh...Rick Springfield.  I had such a crush on him when he played Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital, and loved the music he was putting out in the early 80s.  It was a bit of a shock to find out that he was much older than we thought, but in the end we really didn't care.

Van Halen "Jump"
We all thought it was pretty cool that the name of the latest Van Halen was the same as our graduation year, even if Eddie Van Halen was playing synthesizer in this song.

Go-Go's "This Town"
Not one of their hits, but this album always reminds me of trips with the softball team to various games.  Even though my softball career is not my favorite memory of high school, these trips bring a smile to my face.  We all had the album, and we could sing all the songs, without any electronic devices.

Bryan Adams "Cuts Like a Knife"
As I mentioned above, new artist Bryan Adams was the opening act for my first rock concert, and he blew me away.  Very engaging, the perfect combinations of singing and interacting with the crowd.

Corey Hart "Sunglasses At Night"
Kinda cool, a little creepy, but this song has always been a favorite of mine.  A "go-to" lyric when referring to someone wearing sunglasses, even if it wasn't at night.

Wham! "Wake Me Up Before you Go-Go"
I remember the first time I heard this song, and enjoyed it so much I called my friend Becky to find out what she thought.  She liked it too, and we couldn't wait until the next school dance, because we thought it would be fun to dance to.  Unfortunately, we were wrong.  It *sounded* uptempo, but it really wasn't.  So we enjoyed it on the radio and MTV, but skipped it at any dances.

Kajagoogoo "Too Shy"
I really can't explain this one, it just resonated with me.  A classic "One-Hit Wonder", not a lot of substance, but still intriguing.  Hearing lead singer Limahl talk about this days is a little jarring - looking at him you don't expect to hear coherent complete sentences, plus for some reason I always think he sounds like a professor with his measured speech pattern.

Dierks Bentley - Home

I'm not sure if it's a change in my musical taste or just a phase, but I found it difficult to make myself write a review for Dierks Bentley's new CD "Home".  I bought it the same time I bought Christian Kane's "The House Rules", and after listening to Christian's CD this one is a little boring by comparison.  Don't get me wrong, it's a great CD for Dierks, but the songs aren't resonating with me the same way that Christian's are.  I'm still singing "The House Rules" in my head after listening to it, which doesn't really happening with these songs.  I guess we'll know for sure when the next Chris Young CD is released.

1.  Am I The Only One
A fun, upbeat song to start off with.  It's Friday night and he's ready to go out and have some beers and blow off some steam.  Unfortunately all of his friends want to stay home for one reason or another.  It all works out, though, because he meets a girl at the bar who was abandoned by all of her friends too, so they get together to party.

2.  Gonna Die Young
He's with a girl who is so amazing that he's pretty much convinced she's going to kill him.  She's so hot, he can't breathe, and she sends his blood pressure through the roof.  He's sure to be pushing up daisies any day now.

3.  Tip It On Back
Sometimes the problems of the world, or just your little corner of it, get to be more than you want to handle.  At times like that your best bet is to grab your best girl and go find a place to tip back a drink or five and just forget about everything but enjoying yourself.

4.  Home
Probably my favorite song on the CD.  It's so nice to have a pro-America song that doesn't call out any of our enemies, and doesn't pit one political party against another.  Too many songs with this theme, especially in country music, are written with a conservative bent, railing against the current administration and anyone with liberal beliefs (like me).  He's really trying to rally the entire country together to make our great country even better.

5.  Diamonds Make Babies
A cautious tale for any guy who is thinking about proposing to his girlfriend.  She's a great girl, and you'll be very happy together, just be forewarned:

Diamonds make babies
and babies make mamas
and mamas make daddies
make changes they don't always wanna

6.  In My Head
She's gone, and he says he's happy for her, but she'll always be with him in his head.  He can always imagine her back in his arms, in his life.

7.  Breathe You In
Dierks usually manages to get at least one smoldering, sexy song on his CD, and this is it.  He wants to disappear into her, get so close he can breathe her in, so close that you can't tell where he ends and she begins.

8.  The Woods
A twist on the "What Happens in Vegas..." theme, except this time he's headed to the woods with his girl and some wine, just enjoying the quiet of nature, knowing that whatever happens will stay out in the woods.

9.  When You Gonna Come Around
A wonderful duet with Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, and their voices do sound amazing together.  The two are friends, close, but have never gotten together, much to his chagrin.  He really wants to know when she's going to come around to his way of thinking so that they can really explore the relationship.

10. 5-1-5-0
When I first heard Dierks describe this song I was a little leery - it sounded like one of Toby Keith's "bus songs" (e.g. "Weed with Willie").  The first time I heard the song I didn't really like it.  But after a few more listens it's really growing on me.  He's crazy about her, hence the joke about 5150 (police talk for psychiatric hold), he needs someone to help him handle his feelings for her.

11. Heart Of A Lonely Girl
He's out on the road, making a living, while his young bride is left home all alone.  He trusts her, but not the other guys in their town.  He just can't wait to get back home so she won't be lonely any more.

12. Thinking Of You
Interesting, a song with the same title as one on the Christian Kane CD, what a coincidence.  Slightly different idea - when he has to be away from her he's always thinking of her.  No matter whether it's on the road or in the next room, she's always on his mind.

Christian Kane - The House Rules

I was first introduced to Christian Kane in the 2005 indie film "Her Minor Thing."  (Cute, but won't knock your socks off).  There was something about his slow drawl and easy acting that drew me in.  From that point on I kept an eye out for other acting projects he was involved in, up to and including his current stint as Eliot on "Leverage".  Somewhere along the line I heard that he was a singer as well, and had a band that had recorded a couple of CDs.  I saw the video for "The House Rules" and then heard part of "Let Me Go", which was enough for me to purchase a copy of his CD, called "The House Rules."  While Christian is never going to win any awards for his voice, the CD didn't disappoint (except for the last song).  He definitely has a honky-tonk edge, and I was pleased to see that he co-wrote most of the songs on the CD, always a big plus for me.  Here's my review:

1.  The House Rules
The lead single that got some airplay on the radio and CMT, but didn't do much on the charts.  This is definitely an introduction to Christian and his band as a loud honky tonk bar band.  There are some rules for their establishment, some a little risqué, so you need to read them before you come in, and be ready to have a good time.

2.  Something's Gotta Give
A quieter song about the desperation many people face when living in a small town without a lot of prospects.  Work is hard to find, and it always seems like other people get the breaks you would love to have.  There's a great line near the end of the song that pretty much sums it up:

"And the tumbleweeds, they seem to know more than me.
Oh they always find their way right out of town
They never turn back,
They keep on rolling and they don't slow down."

3.  Thinking of You
Depending on how you look at this it's either a song about devotion or obsession.  She's gone, but he's not really ready to let go.  Every song she hears, every time she cries, every memory she has is because he's thinking of her.  No matter how far away she gets, he'll have an impact on her life.

4.  Whiskey in Mind
This song has emerged as my favorite song on the CD.  Up-tempo, rockin' honky tonk sound, fun vocals to sing along to.  He goes into the bar to take his mind off his troubles when the woman at the end of the bar buys him a shot of his favorite brand of whiskey.  He asks her how she knew his brand; she tells him that there are some things a woman just knows.  Besides, she's got more than whiskey in mind for the evening.

5.  Let's Take a Drive
She's just gotten out of a long-term relationship, and she believes that the wild girl she was at 17 is long gone. He's doing everything he can to convince her that the wild child is still there, taking her for a long drive and reliving the excitement of their youth.

6.  Callin' All country Women
He's been in Hollywood for a quite a few years, and while the local women are beautiful and successful, he'd really like it if they traded their Manolo Blahniks for jeans and cowboy boots.

7.  American Made
Another take on the songs praising all types of American women.  From Oklahoma to Tennessee to Seattle (yeah!), they're all a little different, but all are "American Made", loving apple pie, cold beer and a ball game.

8.  Let Me Go
It's always interesting to me when the title/theme of a song can apply to different situations.  In this case a young man is telling his girlfriend to let him go - she needs to finish college and he's no good for her, so he's leaving town to find a better life.  She calls his bluff; she knows that he's just scared to get too close.  She wants him to let her go along with him, wherever life takes them.

9.  Seven Days
She's been gone for a week, so of course that means that seven should be the number to bet on.  He's sold everything and is heading to Las Vegas to see if lady luck and destiny can turn his life around.

10. Making Circles
"Well our love story reads like a book of lies
Good intentions, better alibis"

When a song starts out like this you know it can't be good.  Nothing in the relationship is easy, and all of their arguments/discussions seem to circle right back to where they started.

11. Fast Car
Oh honey, this wasn't your best choice.  A long-haired redneck covering a song written and recorded by a black woman, which is so closely associated with her?  Even your vocals sound like you're trying to match her version.  I gave it a shot, but I skip this one when listening to the CD.

Journey's continued snub by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Process for Performers reads:

"Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll."

Allow me to step up onto my soap box for just a moment to lobby for one of my favorite bands, Journey.  I decided to look through their history and compile some facts.

The group formed in 1973
They released their first album in 1975
Their first song on the charts ("Wheel in the Sky") got to #57 in 1978
Their first top 40 song ("Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'") hit #16 in 1979
Their first top 10 song ("Who's Crying Now") got to #4 in 1981

Overall they've had:

25 songs on the charts
17 of those songs were in the top 40
5 of those songs made the top 10

In 2007 their hit "Don't Stop Believin'" was used in the final scene of The Sopranos series, it was featured in the pilot episode of Glee, and is the closing number in the Broadway show Rock of Ages.  Several sports teams, including the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Red Wings, have adopted the song as a rallying cry.

Just for comparison, here's a list of this year's inductees:

Guns N' Roses
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Donovan
Laura Nyro
The Small Faces/The Faces
Beastie Boys

Their repeated exclusion from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is just plain wrong, and I hope it is resolved soon.

Chris Young - Neon

You can never get new music from a favorite artist fast enough, and this is no exception.  It feels like I've been waiting for Chris Young's third CD for a very long time, glad that it's finally been released.  Which means that it's time for another review.

1.  I Can Take It From There
Chis has said that this is almost an extension of one of his previous hits, "Getting You Home", although this couple never leaves the house.  A fun song about staying home instead of going to hit some party downtown. If she gets some glasses and a bottle of wine, he'll take it from there.

2.  Lost
Some times life just gets too hectic, and you need to get away from it all.  A fun sing-along song about turning off the GPS and just getting into the truck and driving until there are no more bars on the cell phone.

3.  Tomorrow
The lead single from the CD, this one took a while for me to enjoy.  The phrasing was different than I was expecting, which can turn me off.  After listening to it a few times I really started to appreciate it...the video certainly didn't hurt either.  It's about a couple that can't seem to stay apart, they keep coming back together with disastrous results.  But tomorrow he's leaving for good.  Or at least he says he is.

4.  Save Water, Drink Beer
A classic bar band party song, they're doing their part for the environment by drinking beer to get through the long drought.

5.  Neon
An "unapologetically Country" song, with a slower tempo and twin fiddles.  Find a neon sign and it will lead you somewhere you can order a drink or two and forget your troubles for a while.

6.  Old Love Feels New
This is emerging as my favorite song on the CD, for fairly obvious reasons.  The chorus talks about how a new love feels old, and an old love feels new.  It's a nice feeling when your spouse/partner/love interest/whatever still feels strong and comfortable, yet can still surprise you.

7.  You
A mid-tempo song talking about all the things that seem better now that she's in his life, and how much he's changed.

8.  Flashlight
This song sounds like a combination of two songs from his last CD, "The Dashboard" and "The Shoebox".  (I sense a theme).  A nostalgic look at how he and his dad spent Saturday nights working on the car, talking about everything that dads and sons talk about.

9.  When She's On
Kind of a play on words in this song.  When you talk about someone being "on" you tend to think of them being up and alert, playing the part of the sales rep/subject matter expert/whatever they need to be.  This song turns that slightly, using the classic definition of "on".  "On the front porch", "On the leather couch", etc.  She looks great when she's out in public taking on the world, but he really appreciates the simple moments at home with the family.

10. She's Got This Thing About Her
Chris went all out with the production on this songs.  It's a love song that tries to describe what he loves about her, but can only come up with pale comparisons.  He's backed by strings in this song, instead of the normal guitar/keyboards backing.  "Like the magic in your favorite song, you just can't put your finger on".

(*grumble...still only getting 10 songs...don't like this at all...although now that I have Jim's old iPhone I can download the bonus tracks from iTunes...just don't think I should have to.*)

Anyway, I am enjoying this CD.  It didn't resonate with me the first couple of times I listened to it, but the more I play it the more I like it.  I did find it odd that none of the songs jumped out at me the first time I listened to it, as that is usually the case.  Most times there's one I *really* like and one I don't like as much, but all of these songs started out on even ground and rose up in unison.  There has been some separation since then, but not much.  Interestingly enough, I have identified "Old Love Feels New" as my favorite, but when I think about this CD the song I hear in my head is "Lost".

Blue Lake 2011

It's almost time for Guys' Week at Blue Lake (let's be honest, it hasn't been a 'weekend' in years), which means it's time for another Guys' Week CD.  This year the guys were tasked with finding songs that reminded them of the other guys in the group.  Basically each of the seven guys would come with six songs.  Jim passed this along to me so I could come up with my own CD that we can listen to as we drive up to Vancouver for the SunRun 10k.  Some of these were easy, others took a lot of thought, but in the end I'm happy with my selections.  In alphabetical order by first name:

David - Pearl Jam "Even Flow"
For as long as I've known David he's been a big fan of Pearl Jam.  He's the only person I know that collected import CDs to have in his collection.  My song for him is a classic Pearl Jam song.

Pearl Jam "Even Flow"

Jerry - Johnny Cash "I Walk the Line"
I really hope I remember this story correctly, otherwise this pick will make no sense.  Someone broke into Jerry's truck and stole his stereo.  The thief left Jerry's Johnny Cash CD, to the point that he ejected the one that was in the player at the time.  For Jerry, one of Johnny Cash's best.

Johnny Cash "I Walk the Line"

Jim - Gary Allan "Man of Me"
The first time I heard this song I was amazed at how many things in the lyrics applied to Jim.  Time in the Navy, dissatisfaction with high school, misadventures of youth, love for me.  I sent him the lyrics one day and he agreed that there were a lot of similarities between his life and this song.  A great song by one of my favorite country artists.

Gary Allan "Man of Me"

Kris - Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand "Dream Big"
This was definitely the hardest one to find.  Kris and I have a lot in common, but none of those things translate into songs.  I thought of a couple of songs, but they seemed inadequate or inappropriate.  Our musical tastes don't cross in many places, but we have gone to a couple of concerts together.  Unfortunately even songs from those artists didn't really fit the bill.  After letting my subconscious work on it for a while, this story popped back into my head.

Kris works as a music programming director, so bands occasionally come into his office to play for the staff in hopes of getting into a rotation.  Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband came into his office, and he mentioned how great they were, and how much he liked their music.  This song was popular at the time, and I liked it too.  I wish they had found greater success, but it would seem they are relegated to one-hit wonder status.  If you like this song you should also check out the follow-up, "Banjo Boy", it's a hoot.

Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band "Dream Big"

Larry - Buster Poindexter "Hot Hot Hot"
The very first time we met Larry was at "The House" to watch the NCAA basketball final in 1991.  Someone in the room said, "The party can start now, Larry's here!"  That has just stuck with me all these years, and then is the best "party" song I know of.

Buster Poindexter "Hot Hot Hot"

Pat - Gary Wright "Dream Weaver"
At a group gathering a few years ago Pat was asking us, quite seriously, what we would be doing as a career if money were no object.  I told him that I'd probably be working in the UW sports office in some capacity.  Figuring I would turn the tables on him I asked what he would be doing if money were no object.  He said that he wanted to start a company that helped people find these dream jobs and make them a reality.  He even followed through, sending me a link to a website that offered training for sports management and marketing.  I figured this 70s classic was perfect for him.

Gary Wright "Dream Weaver"

Tim - Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun"
Back in the day a group of us decided to go to a bar and sing karaoke.  This is not something I would do unless drunk, and I don't drink, so there is a bit of an impasse.  What I learned from that evening was that this is one of Tim's guilty pleasures, and that all of us sang it together.

Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun"

#1 Songs on my birthday

It's often said that the song that was #1 on the pop charts the day you were born is your life's theme.  I decided to take a look at what songs were #1 on various milestone birthdays in my life.

When I was born:
1966 - (You're My) Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers
I like it...I can live with this one.

When I became a teenager:
1979 - What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
How funny, considering that every teenager thinks she knows everything.

When I turned 18:
1984 - Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Look out world, here I come!

When I turned 21:
1987 - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
No, I really mean it, I'm ready for anything!

When I was about to graduate from college, and was about to meet my husband:
1989 - She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
Hmmm...wonder how Jim feels about this one.

When I had just gotten married:
1991 - I've Been Thinking About You - Londonbeat
I really did think about him a lot...still do.

When I turned 30:
1996 - Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
This was a pretty sweet birthday.

When I turned 40:
2006 - Bad Day - Daniel Powter
I really dreaded this one, until it came and went and I realized it wasn't that bad.

When I hit "middle-age" (45):
2011 - Born This Way - Lady Gaga
I definitely feel too young to be "middle-aged", but I suppose it can all be traced back to my youth.

Redneck tirade

Josh Thompson is the latest country act to record a song espousing his Redneck ideals, bashing against the beliefs of the current administration.  Listening to it annoyed me enough to pick it apart.

 Way Out Here
  ~Josh Thompson, David Lee Murphy & Casey Beathard

(Verse 1)
Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son

>>Why is your first response violent?  And what exactly is your definition of "not welcome"?

Our necks are burnt, the roads are dirt and our trucks ain't clean
The dogs run loose, we smoke, we chew and fry everything

>>I don't care if your dogs run loose, as long as they have the room to do so without being hit by a car, attacking other people, or being shot by a neighbor if they wander into his yard.  As for smoking, chewing and eating fried foods, as long as you don't need government assistance for the damage you're doing to your bodies, go right ahead.

Out here, Way out here

(Verse 2)
We've got a fighting side a mile wide but we pray for peace
Cause it's mostly us that end up serving over seas

>>You should be happy, then, that us "liberals" were against the war in Iraq.

Hell if it was up to me I'd love to see this Country run
Like it used to be, like it ought to be and just like it's done

>>Like when blacks "knew their place", women kept their mouths shut, gays were fair game, and there was even more corruption than there is today?  Those "good old days"?

Out here, way out here

(Chorus)
We won't take a dime if we ain't earned it

>>Except that "Red" states get more in government assistance than "Blue" states.

When it comes to weight, brother we pull our own
If it's our backwoods way of living that you're concerned with
Well you can leave us alone

>>It's not your "backwoods way of living", it's that you're taking hypocrisy to a whole new level these days.

We're all about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere

>>Interesting, since John Wayne was vaguely racist and circumvented military service, Johnny Cash started wearing all black in support of the poor and hungry, something you seem to be against, and John Deere who could be called a Socialist for working to improve libraries and his city's infrastructure.

Way out here

Gary Allan - Get Off On The Pain

Very excited that Gary Allan has a new CD out, since I loved the last one so much.  This one is very different, but it's definitely growing on me.

There are so many great lyrics in this collection of songs that I decided to pull one from each song to lead off the review.  Most paint a picture of the song as a whole, but there are a couple that I just like.

1.  Get Off On The Pain
"Hanging out in the back of the pack with the dark horses."

The second single from the CD, and a very "Gary" song.  Again he's trying to categorize his life, determining that he must get off on the pain given all of the situations he's lived through and how he lives his life.  It's a fairly loud rocking song that some reviewers have passed off as "forgettable" but it takes on a slightly different meaning if you're a fan and know his story.

******************
The next four songs are related, and tell a bigger story.

2.  I Think I've Had Enough
"So if I'm gonna ride the Ferris wheel I'll need your hand in mine."

He thought he could do it by himself, he kept running away when she got too close, but he's finally realized that he can't do it without her, and wants her in his life for good.

3.  Today
"She's found a new beginning and I'm wishing I had one more chance."

As much as he wanted her in his life he didn't give her enough reasons to stay.  Today she married someone else, and it's finally hit him that she's really gone, and that he blew it, because she isn't thinking about him any more.  Lead single from the CD and has done quite well.

4.  That Ain't Gonna Fly
"West coast cutie comin' on to me...California blonde, built like a ten, young like a twenty."

This is definitely one of the lyrics that I just liked, but doesn't give much of a hint about the song.  He's trying to forget the girl, mostly by drowning his sorrows in a whiskey bottle.  The 'West Coast cutie' is trying to attract his attention, and he'll indulge her for a while, but it's only for the moment, then she'll be gone.

5.  Kiss Me When I'm Down
"Where you gonna go at closing time?  Well, just pay your tab, and I'll pay your cab, if you want to."

Sounds like his lost love might be missing him as well.  She came by and collected most of her stuff, but some things were left behind.  He called her to let her know he had some things of hers, and if she wanted to come by and get them he certainly wouldn't mind seeing her, maybe have some wine, and see what happens next.

********************

6.  We Fly By Night
"Sometimes I think I must be the luckiest man alive
when you pull me down on the couch and slowly slide off my boots."

This song really pulls me in two directions.  I don't really like the construction of the song - it's one of those songs that has fast rambling lyrics that seem to have no relationship with the melody, which tends to annoy me.  On the other hand he makes it into a pretty sexy song about the woman in his life.  Hmmm...as I'm writing this it kind of makes sense.  The verses are fast and harried, talking about how busy they both are dealing with day-to-day life, but the chorus is slower, talking about how everything is better at night when it's just the two of them in the moonlight.  Okay, less annoyed now.

7.  When You Give Yourself Away
"When you give yourself away, love becomes somethin' that you do, not just somethin' that you say."

It can be scary to open yourself up to another person, not knowing how it will end up, but when it's right it's completely worth it.

8.  Along The Way
"Scarecrows and devils are the only things out this late,
and what that says about me, it's probably true"

He's trying to explain/apologize for the way he's been acting.  He knows that he's made a lot of mistakes during his life but he really wants to atone for those sins and be a better person.

9.  She Gets Me
"I know I'm always chasin' rainbows that she can't see."

He knows he's hard to love, and loves the fact that she gets it.  He's gone all the time and she can't possibly understand everything, but she's there for him, no matter what.

10.  No Regrets
"From the day we met to the night she left I loved her, no regrets."

Gary's wife committed suicide in 2004, and from what I understand he's thought about writing this song ever since.  He's finally come to grips with the fact that her suicide was not his fault, and that he loved her every day that they were together.  He still misses her, and feels blessed for the time they did have.

Lee Brice, Love Like Crazy

I recently heard a new song on the radio that caught my attention, especially the chorus:

Be your best friend
Tell the truth
And over use "I love you"
Go to work
Do your best
Don't out smart your common sense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy

Now that Jim and I approaching our 20th anniversary people occasionally ask us what our "secret" is.  Strangely enough, it's as if the songwriter was listening in on these conversations.  We were certainly friends before things got serious, and we're both a little obsessive about saying "I Love You".  The trick is that you have to mean it every time you say it.