TwT: last kiss

I haven't really followed through with my new Tuesday tradition very well, but it's not because I don't believe in the cause (it's mostly because I've been busy putting food on the table). But, after spending the last hour watching old youtube videos (I really am busy, I swear) of my favorite artist, I decided it was about time I host my second semi-monthly/weekly/annually TwT event.

The song I'd like to share with you is tied with about seven other Taylor songs on my "Favorite Songs of All Time" list and it's called, "Last Kiss." It describes the best feelings he ever gave you. It describes his best characteristics. It describes those moments with him that are so vividly engraved in your mind. It describes the sacrifices you made for him. It describes the gut-wrenching feeling you had when he left. It describes how you still want him. It describes how he'll always be the one. It describes how bad you wish he still wanted you. It describes how, despite everything, you still wish him well.

If you're going through a breakup, this is the song for you. And if you're not, it's one heck of a soothing, slow, beautiful song to put you to sleep or calm your stressful day. Enjoy!

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Bold: genius lyrics.
Underline: best part(s) of the song.
Both: seriously?
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Last Kiss

Written by Taylor Swift

I still remember the look on your face

Lit through the darkness at 1:58

The words that you whispered

For just us to know

You told me you loved me

So why did you go away?

Away

I do recall now the smell of the rain

Fresh on the pavement

I ran off the plane

That July 9th

The beat of your heart

It jumps through your shirt

I can still feel your arms

But now I'll go sit on the floor

Wearing your clothes

All that I know is

I don't know how to be something you miss

I never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

I do remember the swing of your step

The life of the party, you're showing off again

And I roll my eyes and then

You pull me in

I'm not much for dancing

But for you I did

Because I love your handshake, meeting my father

I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets

How you kissed me when I was in the middle of saying something

There's not a day I don't miss those rude interruptions

And I'll go sit on the floor

Wearing your clothes

All that I know is

I don't know how to be something you miss

Never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

So I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep

And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe

And I keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are

Hope it's nice where you are

And I hope the sun shines

And it's a beautiful day

And something reminds you

You wish you had stayed

You can plan for a change in weather and time

But I never planned on you changing your mind

So I'll go sit on the floor

Wearing your clothes

All that I know is

I don't know how to be something you miss

Never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

Just like our last kiss

Forever the name on my lips

Forever the name on my lips

Just like our last...


Ahh...what a GREAT song!! For those of you who want a good chuckle, this is pretty good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVIYmN5UmmM

TwT: all too well

So, after much thought and many sleepless nights contemplating this decision, I finally decided to start this new thing called, "Tuesdays with Taylor." Go ahead, make fun of me and judge me all you want. This judgement won't last long, though, because I promise after a few more TwT, you too, will come to learn that this girl can write one heck of a good song...and she has one heck of a good voice.

Taylor's first song came out way back when I was in high school; what I liked about her then, and what I still like about her now, is how much I can relate to her experiences. Even if I am not going through them at the same time she's singing about them (or at the time I am listening to them), I've been there before. And, gosh...her songs are catchy.

The first song I am going to introduce you to is "All Too Well" from her latest album. In true Taylor fashion, I'm not going to tell you who/what this reminds me of. At least not this time ;) But, seriously, what a geniusly written song.


  

------------------------------------------
Bold: genius lyrics.
Underline: best part of the song.
Both: seriously?
------------------------------------------

i walked through the door with you
the air was cold
but something about it felt like home somehow
and i left my scarf there at your sister's house
and you've still got it in your drawer even now
oh your sweet disposition
and my wide-eyed gaze
we're singing in the car, getting lost upstate
autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place
and i can picture it after all these days
and i know it's long gone and that magic's not here no more
and i might be okay but i’m not fine at all...

cause there we are again on that
little town street
you almost ran the red cause you were
lookin’ over at me
wind in my hair, i was there
i remember it all too well

photo album on the counter
your cheeks were turning red
you used to be a little kid with glasses
in a twin sized bed
and your mother's telling stories
about you on the tee ball team
you taught me about your past
thinking your future was me and i know it's long gone
and there was nothing else i could do
and i forget about you long enough to forget why i needed to...

cause there we are again in the middle of the night
we're dancing round the kitchen in the refrigerator light
down the stairs, i was there
i remember it all too well

well maybe we got lost in translation 
maybe i asked for too much 
but maybe this thing was a masterpiece 
till you tore it all up 
running scared, i was there 
i remember it all too well 
and you call me up again 
just to break me like a promise 
so casually cruel in the name of being honest
i'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
cause i remember it all, all, all...too well

time won't fly, it's like i’m paralyzed by it 
i'd like to be my old self again
but i’m still trying to find it
after plaid shirt days and nights when you
made me your own
now you mail back my things and i
walk home alone
but you keep my old scarf from that very first week 
cause it reminds you of innocence 
and it smells like me 
you can't get rid of it
cause you remember it all too well

cause there we are again when i loved you so
back before you lost the one real thing you've ever known
it was rare, i was there, i remember it all too well 
wind in my hair, you were there, you remember it all
down the stairs, you were there, you remember it all
it was rare, i was there, i remember it all too well 


I'm sure this will be on repeat in your car from now on...you're welcome :)

ROAD TRIP!

Two months ago (yes, I know this is a little late), I went on a road trip with my bff, Natalie, and her little sister, Alyssa. Alyssa was accepted to grad school in Greenville, North Carolina, so I jumped at the chance to tag along on their apartment-hunting adventure (I’d take any excuse to enjoy a week off from work). So, on Friday, April 19^th at 9:00 PM, we hit the road and started our 20 hour journey east. I took the worst driving shift imaginable (from 12 AM to 4 AM) and was so grateful when I finally handed the keys off to Natalie. Natalie, however, has claimed she has “special eyes” ever since her lasik eye surgery (which was a month earlier). So, after 45 minutes of driving and many complaints about her “special eyes,” she handed the keys off to Alyssa and went back to her peaceful night of sleep. Typical! 

My outfit of choice for our trip of road.

Anyway, after our drive through Illinois, Indiana, a pit-stop in Ohio (to have breakfast with Alyssa’s college roomie), and several more hours of driving through West Virgina and Virgina (which were both so pretty!), we finally made it to our hotel—the Super 8.

Not sure what state this is--but it's gorgeous!

As we pulled into our gem of a hotel, we were greeted by a very large group of men standing around the parking lot who, we all agreed, appeared to be preparing for some big drug deal. So, while scared for our lives, we sat in the car for several minutes and contemplated our options: 1) stay at the Super 8 and hope we don’t end up on one of Dateline’s missing persons episodes, or 2) consider spending more than $50 a night on a different hotel.

We picked option two. Thank god.

Our time in Greenville was spent eating, drinking, shopping, and apartment searching. Sadly, Greenville is not near a beach and the weather was quite cold the entire time we were there. BUT LUCKILY, after three nights in Greenville, Natalie and I (Alyssa had to fly back home for school) were on our way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!

Alyssa and Natalie.

Our nicer than ever bartender who told us where all the best shopping was.

After a three hour drive, we were finally there, and boy were we thirsty! We started our night with dinner on the pier and the night continued as we sipped a drink in just about every bar we walked by.

The view from our hotel room.

Natalie's first taste of "shark bites" ...we are still unclear of the true origin of this meal.

The beginning of our nightly stroll/bar hop.

The first take wasn't good enough...

The next day, it was FINALLY warm outside and we definitely took advantage. Natalie, got a little too carried away, though, and after only a few short hours, she was absolutely burnt to a crisp (and, holy crap, she looked miserable). I, on the other hand, was very protective of my pasty white ginger skin and constantly wore a nice, thick layer, of sunscreen. 

That morning--the start of Natalie's sunburn from hell.

Not sure what this creature is...

Natalie's foot one week after the burn from hell. Sickening.

After our stay at Myrtle Beach, we hit the road again—this time for ten hours—and ended up in Nashville, Tennessee. Neither one of us had ever been there before and we absolutely FELL IN LOVE! My Aunt Connie lives there and was nice enough to let us stay with her. My two cousins (Aunt Connie’s children), Drew and Carson, and Carson’s boyfriend (who is also my brother’s old friend), Quin, also came to Nashville for the weekend. The first night there, our eyes were a wee bit thirstier than our mouths were, so even though we purchased almost four thousand different beverages, I only managed to drink two or three beers.

We had high hopes...

The next morning we drove to Franklin, TN (and drove past BRAD PAISLEY’S church!) where we spent an hour or so window shopping. Of course, the boys didn’t enjoy that at all, so soon we were on our way back to Nashville where we spent the day/night listening to so many freaking amazing singers. Seriously, I do not understand how all of the people in Nashville aren’t already famous and on the radio--everyone was so good! 

Strolling the streets of Nashville. Me, Natalie (and one of her many cute photo faces), and Drew. Seriously, Natalie's face cracks me up every time!

Nat looking beautiful again.

Carson, me, Drew, and Aunt Connie

Me and Drew

We went to a well-known bar called The Wildhorse Saloon. I, being a lover of all line dances, was hoping I would learn some new dances to take back to Iowa. But, no; I was thoroughly disappointed with the line dancing there—how is it that Nashville, Music City, the country music capital of the world, had almost no line dancing?! I just didn’t (and still don’t) get it. So, instead of me bringing the dancing back to Iowa, I brought the dancing to Nashville. I am not even kidding. The third picture down below….that’s me teaching the Wildhorse Saloon how to line dance. 

Me and Natalie outside of The Wildhorse Saloon.

Aunt Connie, Drew, Natalie, and me.

There I am (in the middle) teaching that giant bar how to dance!

Anyway, the next night (Saturday) we went out again, and on Sunday, Natalie and I headed (another ten hours) back to boring old Iowa. Luckily, I had Monday off from work too, so I had ample time to apply for multiple jobs in...**drum roll please**…Nashville, Tennessee! 

Carson and Quin--the love birds.

Sibling love.

The last picture from our trip! This was taken as we listened to a band who's fiddler is also Brad Paisley's fiddler (and has been for the last 13 years). Yeah, pretty stinking cool, huh?!

P.S. Dear Taylor Swift, if you happen to be reading this and need an accountant, please let me know.

Fingers crossed!