The Summer is ending, and I missed half of it.

Well, not really, but that is how it feels.  This summer flew by.  I know it did when even my kids say it went fast, because I remember back in the day, the summer's seemed endless!

But, we got to hear some great music (won tickets, of course), ride in a fancy car (Porsche is up for sale), ushered in a new decade (40 is feeling fine), tried some new stuff (zip-lining...you are so in my future for every vacay EVER!) and see lots of friends (they will be around all the time, this I know).

My boys start Middle School, which takes me back to my very beginnings of Jr. High.  That was the time I really discovered music.  1980's, the beginning of New Wave, riding the wave of Punk, I could even name a band or two.    

What was the best was being able to name some band and say "Yeah, you probably never heard of them." being all obscure and sneaky.  Such as Joy Division, Style Council, Aztec Camera. (Their album High Land Hard Rain got so much play on my little stereo, I think I wore the tape out.)  Listening to All I Need Is Everything brings back so many teen angst moments!

Yes, they play them in the grocery market (as my son calls it), but back in my day, that was some cool chit, man.  Disco was done.  Something new was in order (Hey-New Order!).   Yes, it was cheesy at times, think Culture Club, but some things never die, like my love of Squeeze (who by the way are touring again, but of course not in MY little town, damn it). 

As my kids enter this phase, I am bombarded with Ke$ha, and by golly, I know who she is, and Lady Gaga, and all kinds of other funny pop music with lines that get sung in our house over and over.  Such wonderful ditties as "Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack."  Oh my!  And what about Cobra Starship (yes, looked the name up) with Good Girls Go Bad!  Wow, 11 sure is different these days.  Maybe it is not though.  I don't know, listening to Prince's Darling Nikki was pretty risque, albeit, I was a little older, but I am sure 11 year old's heard it.  Having been a "Nikki" I probably got reminded of it more than other's.  Hated that song, btw.


Anywho...follow me on the road to new music with tweens as we try to find good deals.

Hey-does finding a white T-shirt in the closet for the kid to wear to PE count as a GOOD DEAL?  I say, heck yeah, FREE is always the best deal-e-o.  Because that school wanted to charge me NINE bucks for one.  That seems a bit outrageous when I can get a 5 pack at Target' for $5!  Hmmmm.....someone is cleaning up on those plain white T's.