Tree Huggers

Well, it happened. Drew & I moved out to California and in a short span of three years.....well, I think the picture says it all.



Actually, we just got back from our Spring Break trip up the coast. We started out in Pismo Beach (an hour or so north of Santa Barbara) and spent some time with our friends Cliff & Heather.





Then we drove up to San Francisco. We LOVED the city! We stayed at the Stanyan Park Hotel in Haight-Ashbury which really set the Victorian/hippie vibe San Fran is known for. We did all the usual too: Golden Gate bridge, Lombard St., Chinatown, and of course, the houses from the opening credits of "Full House."








Our absolute favorite though was Alcatraz. As much as we both love history it was sure to be a hit...but, add 40 degree temperatures, rain, fog and darkness and you have a recipe for one creepy evening. Needless to say we were cold and wet but loved every minute of it (after we actually got there of course).






On our way back home, we took the coast all the way back and stopped for part of the day in Big Sur for a little hiking. Pictures cannot possibly convey how gorgeous the California coast is...wow. This state gets a bad rap sometimes, but it's stuff like this that makes you fall in love with it.







"This ain't a threat, but I think I better warn ya. Gonna fall in love if you go to California..."

Top Ten Tuesday

There are songs you are infatuated with, listening to them on repeat until you hate them as much as you were previously obsessed.

There are songs you kind of like because everyone else does and it is a fad. I’m sort of hoping this is the case with Lady Gaga (even though I admit her stuff is catchy).

There are plenty of songs you instantly hate or have no use for.

Then there are those songs. You know, the ones you hear and your pulse quickens, your ears immediately tune in-and you are hooked. For life.

These songs grab you instantly and continue to make you love them each and every time you listen.

Some of them are associated with a particular memory, some are just musically great, and others speak to you in a way that only music and lyrics can.

These are my Top Ten (in no particular order).

1. "Tiny Dancer," Elton John
Everytime I hear this I want to go for a drive along the beach with the windows down. Fell even more in love with this song after watching the classic bus scene from “Almost Famous.”

2. "My Girl," The Temptations
My all-time favorite Motown song that I’ve loved since I can remember listening to music.

3. "I Got You Babe," Sonny and Cher
Ok, I know most people either love it or hate it, but this one is a keeper for me. The beat is catchy, the lyrics are sweet, and somehow I have a strong positive association with my family whenever I hear it.

4. "In My Life," The Beatles
Beautifully poignant lyrics with soothing music.

5. "We Build," Nicole Nordeman
Beautifully written metaphor comparing marriage to building a house. The song played at my wedding.

6. "Night Moves," Bob Seger
My husband introduced me to this one when I first flew out to California to visit him after he had moved here. I get all giddy when I hear it come on over the speakers.

7. "Hallelujah," Jeff Buckley
Quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.

8. "When the Levee Breaks," Led Zeppelin
How bout that? American blues done better by a British band! Everytime I hear this I have this weird craving to go to Louisiana and eat Cajun food.

9. "Beast of Burden," The Rolling Stones
“Such a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl.”

10. "Everything," Michael Buble
The album this is from came out right before my husband and I got married. We both love him, listened to the CD and decided separately that this was pretty much our song. 

Ok, this was hard. So here are 10 more songs that almost made the list.

"Spread Your Love," Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
"Holiday In Spain," Counting Crows
"Stranglehold," Ted Nugent
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain," CCR
"Crazy On You," Heart
"Little Queen," Heart
"Crash Into Me," Dave Matthews Band
"Boston," Augustana
"Hotel California," The Eagles
"Island In The Sun," Weezer

What are yours?