"I'm only singing what life's been bringing/ If you feel it why don't you sing along"

I've always been a big fan of music. But honestly, who isn't? I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that they hate music. And if I ever do, they will probably be strange. ANYWAY, if you haven't noticed, I use song lyrics as the title of each post. I usually try to make them relate to the post in some way but every now and then, especially if it is a nonsensical post, I opt to use whatever song I currently like.

I think the obsession kicked into high gear once I got an iPod my senior year of high school. That thing was my saving grace freshman year of college since I was on less than good terms with my roommate. I listened to that thing all the time: Walking to class, studying, writing papers. It might as well have been attached to my hand (and a coffee cup in the other). It got to the point that if I forgot it at home, I couldn't study. I'm a little co-dependent on it, I guess.

iTunes has always been my weakness and I blame this on shows like Grey's Anatomy and Laguna Beach/The Hills (both of which I used to be obsessed with but not so much anymore). I think being the music editor on a show like that would be AWESOME. Sifting through tons of songs to find the perfect song for a particular scene. Honestly, I have a playlist from songs I downloaded from those three shows. I just love it when the lyrics and music match the tone and mood of the scene perfectly.

I became so obsessed with trying to have a literal soundtrack to my life. One of my good friends left for college when I was still in high school and I was pretty upset. And since I don't claim to have the best taste in music ever, I did go to Target two days after he left for Athens to buy the, uh, ahem, Ryan Cabrera cd. What? His first single "On the Way Down" was really catchy. ANYWAY, so I put the cd in when I got into my car and keep in mind I was super sad that my friend was gone at UGA. And the lyrics to the song were:

"Two days chasing me around/ I go crazy when you're outside of my world ... I feel forty kinds of sadness when you're gone/ I feel the same thing always happens when you're gone/ I know you're just around the corner/ But just around the corner is not enough."

I think I was a dork and actually said "They would play this song if I was on Laguna Beach!" I was driving my car, tears in my eyes, listening to a song (as pop-py and cliched as it was) that totally captured the moment. He had been gone for two days. He was just around the corner in another town but it wasn't enough. And I was really sad. It was so perfect! And I always think about that moment whenever I hear that song when I am shuffling through my library.

Honestly, if I had the option of making my life a musical, I would totally do it. People breaking out into spontaneous song with choreographed dancing? Dramatic, heartfelt solos when I'm sad? AH-MAZING. And listen to the wise words of Phoebe from Friends if you don't agree with me:

Phoebe: Oh, this is like the best day ever. Ever! You guys might get back together, Monica and Chandler are getting their baby, there are chicks and ducks in the world again! Oh, I feel like I'm in a musical! (Singing) "Daa - raa... When the sun comes up, bright and beaming! And the moon comes..."
(Rachel enters from her room.)
Rachel: Morning!
Phoebe: They'll never know how it ends.

Phoebe: I'm telling you! Oh, okay! This is the part of the musical where there'd be a really good convincing song. (Singing) "Bam-bam, don't take no for an answer. Bam-bam, don't let love fly away. Bam-bam-bam-bam..."
(Rachel enters and interrupts Phoebe's song.)
Rachel: Hi!
Phoebe: Can't a girl finish a song around here?

What's my whole point? I am using song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter that set the tone. If anything ever happens with this dang thing actually getting published, I'm sure copyright laws will be some issue or something but we will cross that bridge when we get to it. But I like to think I have picked very appropriate song lyrics for each chapter in terms of matching the mood and voice. And I made all of the songs a "Book" playlist and I think it's fantastic.

Book update: Mid-Chapter 25.

313 pages.

95,651 words

Oh and I ended up with a name for ### boy (whenever I hit a part where I don't know what to do I use #s so I can find it later and edit). I ran into one of my guy friends and he again pestered me about my plans and I broke down and told him. He was super supportive (literally yelling "I can't wait to read your book!" as I walked away) so ta-da he got named. Thanks TA! :)