Graham's Gone

I know it's old news, but I am still in shock. Deanna gave Graham the boot. And he deserved it. He was a total jerk to her and then he had the nerve to write her a letter! Talk about mixed signals. Poor Deanna. All she wants is love and commitment.

Ladies, stay away from all those Grahams out there. It is easy to have a natural chemistry with guys like that, but that doesn't mean it will last. You don't need a DB like that in your life.

Simba!

So I've obviously become a YouTube fanatic to an unhealthy degree with the amount of videos I post. But it's so much fun!

My new thing today was searching for all my favorite Disney classics. Why? Why not! I am always amazed at how I can still remember all the words to the songs. But can I remember any sort of historical or intelligent information? Of course not.

Below is a delight for all those born in the mid-1980s. Let me know if you get a little choked up. I did.

Who's Umbrella Would You Stand Under?

Bustin' A Move

If I could make my own music video, this is the kind of choreography I would bring to the table. Don't let the pet store setting distract you from his sweet ass moves.

No, Mary J.--MORE Drama In My Life

I feel like I'm cheating on my fiance. Not with another man, but with one of my favorite reality television stars--Deanna Pappas. Every Monday I clear my calendar for two solid hours of me, Deanna, and 25 men trying to win her heart (and hopefully regularly parading around the house with their shirts off). We all remember the fateful day that Brad denied her the rose to his heart in a recent season of The Bachelor. It was heartbreaking and a waste of a good rose.

But she is back and ready to fall in love! She's the girl of any man's dreams. Heart of gold, killer body, and an irresistible Southern accent. She is "putting her heart on the line" to have the "fairytale ending" and she wants a man who is there "for the right reasons." She is not messing around! She's laid the smack down more than once and will undoubtedly do it again before she decides who is her one true love. She's breaking hearts, kicking ass, and taking names. How could you not be entertained???

Reality television has long time been one of favorite addictions. Though many people have recently caught on to the reality TV crazy, it has keeping my heart rate up for many years. I've been watching people make fools of themselves for half of my life and it all started in 1996 with Real World: Miami. To this day I will never forget the infamous scene when they tried to shove Flora's fat ass through the window to interrupt a sexy shower scene. From then on out I found nothing funnier or entertaining than the stupidity of other people being broadcasted for the world to see.

My love of reality TV has grown into a tree with trashy branches like Flavor of Love and Shot at Love and the educational like Top Chef and Project Runway. But a constant through all of them is the trunk that holds up the tree of reality TV: DRAMA. Ridiculous, crazy, drunk, naked, stupid drama.

And I eat it up faster than a fat kid with a Snickers bar.

DMB

Dave Matthews Band. One of the greatest bands of all time has been rocking people's faces off since 1991 and they keep going strong. This year I am celebrating 10 years of infatuation with Dave, Boyd, LeRoi, Stefan, Carter and Butch. They've been very good to me over the years. We've shared ups (every concert) and downs (release of Everyday) and our love endures.

Summer after summer they hit the road to put on shows that never disappoint. I know the show I see tonight will be no exception. When you put a group of musicians on a stage together with as much talent as each of them has, it is synergy at its best.

Mix it Up

I love a good mixed tape. There is nothing better than having someone carefully craft a sequence of 15-20 songs just for your listening pleasure.

A friend and I were discussing music and I mentioned that oftentimes lyrics are not what hooks me to a song. It's usually the hook. Pun intended. But I know I have more soul than that so I've compiled a list of some of my favorite soulful songs.

If you know me at all, you know that any musical list I put together will have an unhealthy amount of Mayer on it. But I can't help, especially in this category. In my eyes he is lyricist extraordinaire so it was unavoidable. You’re lucky the whole list is not all of him.

Most of these songs are great for listening to after a break-up and you want to cry your eyes out because they really pinpoint feelings that come out of the situation. There are some feel good songs too. The common thread is they all have soooooouuuulllll….

1. Split Screen Sadness – John Mayer: The second verse is my favorite batch of lyrics EVER. It’s absolute poetry… “It’s only the air you took and the breath you left.”

2. Back to You – John Mayer: My number one favorite song of all time. Particularly, his earlier version on “Inside Wants Out” that is more raw, and I think much better than the over-produced version on “Room for Squares.”

3. Elias – Dispatch: This song paints a picture of life in Africa with Elias. He’s a real person!

4. The Day Forever Died – Matt Wertz: Nothing worse than a surprise break-up. The title is perfect.

5. Meaning – Gavin Degraw: Love gives us meaning in this crazy world.

6. Belief – John Mayer: “Belief is a beautiful armor.” Offers a unique perspective about how people’s beliefs and opinions can work for and against them. Check out this BA video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEgUUTkqRRQ

7. Learning to Fly – Tom Petty: Nothing better than a good ol’ coming of age song that makes you think fondly of the good times that have come and gone.

8. Lost Myself in Search of You – Matt Nathanson: About wanting a relationship so badly you’re willing to put up with too much crap and turn into someone who's no good.

9. Grace’s Amazing Hands – Dave Barnes: One word. Beautiful. Has to be an acoustic version to be enjoyed thoroughly.

10. Beast of Burden – The Rolling Stones: The epitome of a love song; you can’t have your man or woman bringing you down.

11. Tracing – John Mayer: Going through the motions in a relationship, knowing it’s not going to last because it was never that good to start.

12. Stay Away – Dave Barnes: It’s hard to get your own heart jerked around, but maybe harder to have it happen to a close friend because your hands are tied.
13. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room – John Mayer: Things have changed in a relationship, and you both know it, but neither of you want to end it, but know that it is coming. The title is absolute genius and says it all.
14. Hallelujah – Rufus Wainwright: How could I not put this song on here?

It turns out most of these songs are on my "Greatest Songs of All Time" list so I guess I have more soul than I thought...