Song of the Day - Right Now - Mary J Blige

Mary J. Blige fans rejoice!  One of the singers most anticipated albums ever, The London Sessions, has finally been unleashed and I couldn't be more excited.  Here is one of the tracks off the new album, produced by Brit electronica duo Disclosure.  It's a little R&B, a lil soul and oh so good...  

Song of the Day - Trouble - Natalia Kills

Every once in awhile you get reminded that there is so much great music out there that we hardly ever get to know, and such is the case with Natalia Kills, the multi-talented and naughty songstress from across The Pond.  Though I downloaded her first album, 2011's Perfectionist, a long, long time ago (and played it out!), I had completely forgotten about her follow-up, 2013's Trouble. I took a listen to the album during my walk last night and I loved every single song, including this one, the title track, which was never released as a single.  Natalia's style is, well, pop with a rockish edge and almost every song has a great hook.  So if you don't know her, now's the time to check her out...

A Great Weekend to Ease the Pain

This is a picture I just found in a drawer the other day and posted as my profile picture on Facebook for my birthday.  Pretty appropriate, huh?  Man, when I look at that innocent young face I can't help but wonder whatever happened to that little boy.  The life that was to be laid out before him...Oh man, if I only knew then what I know now.  

So, it's past me now...the big 5-0.  Though I don't feel any different physically (well maybe a little tired from the weekend!), I'm still not thrilled about the whole idea. But whaddyagonnado?  I really couldn't have asked for a better birthday weekend, as I ventured into the city with ten great, great friends and had an absolute blast on Saturday night and then a fun little get together with my family and my pals Rich, Bobby and Vera at my mom's last night.  

To top off all of that fun with people whom I really and truly care about, I received lots of love from my faraway friends on Facebook.  Now I usually get about 60-70 birthday wishes every year, but this year it was more than double that.  And then I was greeted this morning to gifts from a few of my students, one of whom painted and framed an amazing picture for me...

Pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, I just want to say thank you to everybody who made this difficult birthday a little easier to handle, and I especially want to thank Rich, Bobby, Vera, my mom, Kyle, Ozzie and Manny, Gary and Christopher, Al, Dave, Kim, Nick and Jake, Ann Marie, Chrissy, Linda, and Gina.  I love you all and now I can face this new decade knowing that I am loved! 

Song of the Day - Rebel Yell - Billy Idol

I used to LOVE Billy Idol, so much so that I saw him in concert on more than one occasion back in the day.  I just happen to share a birthday with the punk rock singer from the 80's who had several nice hits that I loved, including this one.  Idol recently penned an autobiography, Dancing With Myself, which includes the fact that he once lived in Patchogue, NY, where I now reside.  How cool is that?  So happy belated birthday to Mr. Idol!  I actually can't believe I never posted this one before,..

In the midnight hour

She cried more, more, more

With a rebel yell

More, more, more