What’s Updog?

So, today’s the day. Malissa and I have been married for 10 years now. A Decade. A third of my life. X, in Roman numerals. Our Decennial. The “Tin” (or “electronics”) Anniversary gift year. Wow. Ten Years. That’s not so much when you think about the grand scheme of things. But, in terms of marriage, it’s a pretty big leap. Those of you who know us, know that we’ve known each other for even longer than we’ve been married. We were friends in school, we went our separate ways, and we ended up together when all was said and done. We’ve had ups and downs and all kinds of in-between times, and we’ve managed to keep our heads on straight at the end of the day.

There is no magic formula for staying married. It takes patience, and the ability to know when to admit you’re wrong. It means knowing when to fight, knowing how to fight, and how to recover from each one. The first few years are hard work, but after a few…it becomes easier and easier to fly through the days and months and years without any major catastrophe.

All in all, and this is gonna sound corny, it takes love. Malissa and I are very different at times, yet completely alike in others. We’ve found common interests and goals, and don’t argue about the small stuff. We give each other space, yet can’t spend more than a day apart without starting to miss the other. We both believe in the idea of a “soul mate” and that we have each found ours in each other.

This being the most sugary sweet post I’ve ever written, I’ve also set up a “10 Songs for 10 Years” mix. These are 10 songs that I feel pretty much encapsulate the way I feel about love and marriage and Malissa.

So, go download it, if you’d like at: http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100072121/10yrMix.zip

The ten songs are, in order,

Ben Kweller – Run

Nada Surf – Always Love

Rogue Wave – Medical Expenses (live)

Youth Group – Forever Young (cover)

Joshua Radin – Today

O.A.R. – Melissa (cover)

Joe Pisapia – Dancing Partner

Syd – Here’s a Love Song

Ben Folds – The Luckiest

Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Follow You Into the Dark

Here’s to ten years, and a lifetime more.

I heard a song the other day on a mix cd that really took me back to when i was a younger lad. A time when i had just started getting into music.

When I was a kid, I used to plop down in front of the tv like most kids. I’d eat my cereal and watch cartoons and PBS and be entranced by the vivid colors and music. I think that this early exposure to music really started my love of it at an early age. I mean…I got a drum-set at five, after all. Most of the shows I watched really focused on music and, of course, made me laugh. Some had the added bonus of making me learn something as well.

So, what I thought I’d do is post some of my favorite songs as a kid…though re-interpreted by new artists.

You can get all the tracks (and music guide) here: http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100158292/KidMix.zip

Tracklist is in playing order this time and is as follows:

Kelly Hogan - Rubber-Duckie (Sesame Street)
Sarah McLachlan - The Rainbow Connection (Muppet Movie)
Tripping Daisy - Sigmund And The Seamonsters (Theme)
The Ramones - Spider Man (Theme)
Liz Phair with Material Issue - The Tra La La Song (Banana Splits Theme)
Blind Melon - Three Is A Magic Number (Schoolhouse Rock)
Better Than Ezra - Conjunction Junction (Schoolhouse Rock)
The Smartees - Sesame Street (Theme - Techno Remix)
Bonus Track - Guster - We Gotta Be Clean (Sesame Street)

As an added (double) bonus, Malissa’s sister had her little girl today. So, Abagail….welcome to the world. Here’s hoping some of this music will make it your way sometime via Uncle Jeff.

Hello, gang…

I’m finally back with a new mix uploaded and set to hopefully continue on a more regular basis. Sure, i’ve said it before…but i’m really trying this time. In fact, the format of things will change from here on out. Going forward, i will likely only post about 10 songs to save on space and download time. Plus, it’s easier on me to come up with a ten song mix. Themes will be a more regular attraction to the mixes as well. I’ve got several lined up, so be prepared. Also, i’m not using Muliplty.com to host the files anymore because you have to have an account to download them. I hate making people go through all of that just to get music. So, i’ll just load them up to a share site for large files. This time it’s with gigasize, because they host for 45 days…let the countdown begin.

Speaking of, you can find the mix here (complete with my "music guide" to all the songs: http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100210760/TheEarlyJuneMix.zip

Track listing is as follows (lazy and alphabetical again):

Apocalypse Hoboken – Sweet Transvestite (cover)
Ben Folds – Zak and Sara
Bic Runga - Lonely Lola Cherry Cola Girl
Bright Eyes - Four Winds
Electric President - Ten Thousand Lines
Flourscein - Cathy’s On Crank
Ivy - The Best Thing
Jenny Lewis - The Charging Sky
Josh Rouse - Dressed Up Like Nebraska
Leroy - Good Time
matt pond PA - Holiday Road (cover)
Menomena - Wet and Rusting
Old 97’s - Designs On You (acoustic)
Portishead - Only you (live)
Punchline - Round Here (cover)
Speechwriters LLC – Clones
Student Rick - October Skies
The Futureheads - First Day
The Thermals - A Pillar of Salt

Enjoy and let me know if you love it or hate it.