Dec 30, 2010

OLD LAME SIGNS, MY FRIENDS. OLD LAME SIGNS.

Do you ever hear a song that you've been singing your entire life, and suddenly you realize that you've been singing the wrong words? This question entered my tiny little brain a few minutes ago when I saw a commercial with the "I've Got A Brand New Pair Of Rollerskates" song playing in the background. (Don't ask me what the heck the commercial is for....all I know is that there's a little kid in a seat thingie and he/she/it is flying through traffic to Grandma).

(I really need to stop drinking funny concoctions so early in the day....)

Anywhoose, I was thinking about that song and how it used to come on the radio every morning in Athens, Tennessee when I was getting my hair fixed for school, and how I used to belt out what I THOUGHT were the words..."I've got a bear with a pair of roller skates, you've got a brand new me", and Mom would stop with the brushing and tugging and general pulling of my mess of a head of hair into Buffy tails, and then she'd look at me and wonder if I would ever make it out of kindergarten. (I did, but just barely.)

(Oh, come on. You know what Buffy tails are. Think! Remember the show "Family Affair" with Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabbot as Mr. French? Remember Buffy? Well, there you go then. Buffy tails.)

(What can I say? We Rich girls were blessed with a TON of hair and to this day I don't think I've ever felt comfortable just letting it hang down in all it's fuzzy/curly/messy glory in public. Ponytails are a MUST with this particular monkey, thank you very much.)

(Oh, who am I kidding? Me wearing my hair pulled back is a direct result of a rather unfortunate incident involving a broken ponytail holder on picture day and a school picture that was labeled "Cousin It Goes to School" and then promptly stuffed back into the envelope it came in.)

But I regress.

I realized today that I almost never sing out loud. Forget the fact that my voice could spoil milk right there in the very carton....I just never seem to feel compelled to really belt out a tune. Not even in the shower.

So tomorrow night, as Aunt Chrissy and I stand up to watch the ball drop (why the hell we always stand is beyond me), I promise to just belt it right out.....OLD LAME SIGNS, MY FRIENDS. OLD LAME SIGNS.

Here's the New Year's wish from me to you....

I hope that 2011 is a year of utter joy and happiness and peace and health for every single person on the planet. That every war is ended, every wrong righted, every cupboard overflowing, and every heart filled with love. And, most importantly, that you are blessed with everything you hope for and nothing you don't. Happy New Year!

32 comments:

  1. You and I may never have the correct words to songs, Coni, but you certainly have a way with writing. I appreciate your wishes for the new year, and 'backatcha'!

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  2. Every time I put my girls' hair into pigtails, I think of Buffy.

    Happy New Year to you too.

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  3. I am delighted to have found your blog. You are witty, clever and very entertaining. Keep up the awesome job in 2011. Oh, and btw, I love, love, love your stitching! Happy New Year!

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  4. Happy New Year to you, Aunt Chrissy, and especially to Master Stewey Angus, too! I'm sure he'll join in "Old Lame Signs" with you.... or just rush to the curtains and pee!
    Barb in Syracuse

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  5. LOL Coni! As soon as I read the title to your newest post, I knew the song that you were referring to! LMAO..you are the most priceless fun I ever read on the blogosphere.

    I do the same thing too - but I have an excuse - I have a hearing problem and wear two hearing aids. There are songs that I don't hear words right and my family members (or if I get the lyrics) correct me. Funny thing is, lyrics that THEY don't understand, I can hear fine and tell them what was said. :D

    Looking forward to seeing what you stitch in 2011, and here's hoping that I get to get more done myself!

    Hugs and Love to you, Stewie, Aunt Chrissy and Bosco - Happy New Year!

    Jen

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  6. Thanks for making me laugh! I knew just what you were talking about when you said Buffy Tails.

    Your misunderstanding of song lyrics makes me think of Beverly Cleary's Ramona. She thought the National Anthem words were Dawnzerly light. LOL Ya gotta love Beverly Cleary.

    Wishing you a wonderful 2011.

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  7. We always stand up for some reason, too....like it's the National Anthem or something...

    With the advent of digital sound, I am just figuring out words to songs I've known for decades!

    I love Buffy tails! Except my mother pulled about half the hair out of my head putting them in. Yowch!

    Thank you for the beautiful New Year's Wish, and I wish the same to you and yours. Hope you and the gang have a fun New Year's Eve!

    Happy New Year!!!

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  8. I too wore pigtails to school every day. My Mom pulled them so tight I looked like I was part of another nationality!

    Happy New Year to you and Stewey
    (Aunt Crissy and Bosco too)

    :o)

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  9. Happy Happy New Year to you, Aunt Chrissy, Stewey (his very self) and Bosco. All that you wish for us I wish in triplicate to you and yours.

    Love ya!

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  10. I always thought it was "she's spying the stairway to heaven" instead of buying.

    Don't feel bad about your singing, that's me too. I'll have to remember spoil milk in the carton.

    When my cats are bad I pick them up and sit in my rocking chair and sing rock-a-bye baby to them. They howl at the torture of it all.

    Hope you have a wonderful 2011

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  11. Thank you for all the laughs this year.

    A very Happy New Year to you, Aunt Chrissy, little Bosco, and of course, Master Stewey, his very little self.

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  12. I wish the very same to you (New Year wishes). Don't know why but it brought me to tears. The former was full of laughter and smiles and not disappointing as usual. Thank you for all you share. :) Cathryn

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  13. May you have exactly the kind of year you want Coni...and may all your stitches be perfect!

    Kisses to Stewey...

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  14. I don't even want to tell you how old I was when I FINALLY realized that the words to one of the verses of "Winter Wonderland" WEREN'T "Later on, we'll "perspire" as we dream by the fire:...instead of..."Later on, we'll "conspire" as we dream by the fire. Let's put it this way...my SECOND husband pointed out my error! Oh yikes, did I just admit that to the whole world wide web????? You won't tell anyone, will you????
    Anyway - our bad hair and bad lyrics are what help make us goofy and loveable, right? I hope your New Year will be absolutely delightful and I can't wait to see what stitching and fun you get into in the New Year. (P.S. - give that little cutie Stewie a kiss from us all as soon as he gets back from his New Year's "whoop-dee-doo"! ")

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  15. You said it so much better than I can so I will keep it simple.

    A very Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  16. I purposely change the words to songs and my pups love it! "Puppies, Puppies, Puppies, wanna have fun, with other puppies!" They are the only living creatures that love my singing! I like to think they have wonderful taste in music!

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  17. Happy New Year to you, Aunt Chrissy, Bosco, and Stewey! (Miranda wants me to ask you how you clean the drapes - he peed on my best friend's Christmas tree skirt.)

    I highly recommend singing at the top of your lungs while driving down Main Street with the windows down and your thick hair blowing in the breeze. Maybe you have to wait for spring in the midwest.

    The Grateful Dead almost always got their own lyrics wrong at some point during their concerts. When once asked if he remembered the words to one of his "longer" songs Bob Dylan replied: "I remember the important ones." Who cares?

    Singing along in California -

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  18. Happy New Year to you and Stewey! I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for you both.

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  19. I had an aunt, dear late Aunt Kathy, who never got the words right to any song, God Bless her. Remember the song Express Yourself? She insisted they were singing bread for sale, and we could not talk her out of it. There was another one, Good Love by, I believe the Rascals, well she ended up with doodle oh on that one, so I think you did pretty well in comparison!

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  20. Sing out loud and strong....in tune or out....with the right or wrong lyrics, just so long as you have fun. Happy New Year to you, Aunt Chrissie, Stewie and Bosco from myself, The Missus and Lestat the cat.

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  21. Happy New Year to you, Stewey, Aunt Chrissy and Bosco. I so enjoy reading your blog and watching your stitching come to life! Thanks so much for a wonderful year of blogging. Warm Hugs

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  22. Blwyddyn Newydd Dda from Wales.

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  23. Loved Family Affair with Buffy, Jody and Mr. French! Happy New Year!

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  24. Happy New Year to you and Stewey! And I knew exactly what you meant by Buffy Tails. My little brother thought REO Speedwagon's song "In Your Letter" was "Enchilada, Oh Enchilada" which still to this day sends me into giggles.
    Donna

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  25. I remember Buffy!
    Happy New Year to you, Aunt Chrissy, Bosco and especially Stewey!

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  26. Happy New Year, dear Coni! I love your post on the songs -and sure I remember Family Affair - Uncle Bill, Uncle Bill!

    Enjoy your night - and standing for the ball drop - I plan on waking up from the recliner to watch that before I head to bed!

    Stitch lots!

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  27. What better way to start 2011 than with a sing song and a giggle with family and friends :-)

    Loved your memory of getting your hair pulled into pony tails every day for school - same here!!

    I can't be sure how many songs over the years that I have mis-sung while driving alone in the car - wouldn't dare sing aloud where someone could hear me - but it will be more than one or two!

    All the best to you and yours for 2011. I look forward to another year of keeping up with the adventures of the Rich Girls and their gorgeous doggy companions and seeing more of your stitching along the way.

    Happy New Year!

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  28. Happy New Year to you and Stewey (and Chrissy and Bosco).

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  29. Happy New Year Coni, I hope you have a wonderful 2011.

    I had my own special song lyrics to the Christmas song "Walking in a Winter Wonderland", I'd sing,"...later on we'll perspire, as we dream by the fire....". It made perfect sense to my 7 year old self, who wouldn't sweat in front of a hot fire?

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  30. Happy New Year....I haven't read any new posts lately...are you guys OK?

    A day without Stewey is like...well, a day without pee on the drapes... I miss hearing about all of your adventures, stitching and otherwise...

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  31. Oh we get that advert here in the UK too. I think it has something to do with taking a photo from anywhere and being able to print it without being anywhere near the printer and to be able to send it to Grandma from wherever you may be.

    Wishing you a very Happy New Year too.

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