SLS ~ Harry

Jim has a fun challenge for today: choose a song by a Tom, Dick, or Harry. Lots to pick from, but I went with Harry Nilsson and “Without You.” Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger were the writers, and Badfinger first recorded the song in 1970. Nilsson recorded it in 1971.

Without You

No, I can’t forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
No, I can’t forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrows
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now it’s only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
I can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give any more
Can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t give, I can’t give any more
Well, I can’t forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
Can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give anymore
I can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give anymore
(Living is without you)

~*~

Image credit to Jim Adams.

©️2020 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Thursday Inspiration 39

Welcome to Thursday Inspiration! This is my weekly prompt post and hopefully it will inspire you to write something creative, perhaps a poem or a piece of flash fiction. If you’d like to share your writing with the community, please indulge me and tag your post with #p0eticlicense and/or #lightm0tifs, and of course link back if you wish. I will try to visit everyone who participates. 🙂

This week’s theme is boots and the picture is below. Here is the song snippet from “These Boots Are Made for Walking” recorded by Nancy Sinatra in 1966:

These boots are made for walking
And that’s just what they’ll do
One of these days these boots are gonna
Walk all over you

~*~

Image from the Happy Color app.

©️2020 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

SLS ~ In the Middle

This week Jim gives us some fun words to play with. I was torn between “In the Middle” and “Fat Bottom Girls,” but I went with Jimmy Eat World because I figure I’ll have plenty of other chances for Queen.

“In the Middle” was released in November 2001 from Jimmy Eat World, on their self-financed fourth album Bleed American, an unfortunate name for that particular time. The band had been dropped by their label in 1999 for not selling enough, but ITM hit No. 5. Ironically, the song is about staying true to yourself when faced with pressure.

In the Middle by Jimmy Eat World

Hey
Don’t write yourself off yet
It’s only in your head you feel left out or looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don’t you worry what they tell themselves when you’re away
It just takes some time
Little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be all right
Hey
You know they’re all the same
You know you’re doing better on your own so don’t buy in
Live right now
Just be yourself
It doesn’t matter if that’s good enough for someone else
It just takes some time
Little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be all right
It just takes some time
Little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be all right

[…]

~*~

Image from Jim Adams.

©️2020 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Ten Year Report

Di of Pensitivity101 tagged me for this introspective challenge. I’ll begin with the high points of the past 10 years, followed by the low, and then answer her questions. I’m not going to tag anyone else. 🙂

High Points 2010 – 2020

In 2011, my sweet kitty Gatsby came into my life via the Orange County Animal Shelter. 😻❤️

My daughters both graduated from college (and did extremely well too), one in 2012 and one in 2015.

They also both got married to awesome guys (2017, 2019)! 💖💖

In 2018, a wonderful little granddaughter arrived! 😍✨🤩

I have published many books during these 10 years, and while they may not fly off the shelves, the fact that I have actual finished novels and other books out there gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

Low Points 2010 – 2020

My divorce was final in 2011, and while this was a necessary step, it’s still sad.

The relationship I had through my 2-year divorce process ended badly in 2011.

The entire 5-year dating debacle that followed was a depressing, and at times frightening, mess and continues to have repercussions to this day.

My dad passed in 2013 (my mom in 2008).

My cat Cocoa died in 2010 or 2011… my memory is a bit fuzzy right now. 😢

Di’s Questions

Is there any year in the past decade that stands out as the best?

-This last one (2019) ended up on a positive note because I moved into a new place with a good friend and got away from my old rundown apartment. I also spent quite a bit of time with family and friends and began writing a fun story. 🙂

Has your taste in music changed in the past ten years or do you think music in general has changed?

-I don’t listen to much new music, but in the last several years I’ve found myself liking more country and folk songs. Hard rock is a bit of a bore sometimes lately.

Are you heavier or lighter than you were ten years ago?

-I’m about the same, up maybe 2-3 pounds. But in the middle of these 10 years I was much lighter ~ I got sick from sushi (will never have it again) and could hardly eat for a month. Then a certain relationship stressed me out so much, anxiety kept my appetite away. I was 10 pounds lighter than today and so right now I feel “fat” because I liked the way I looked then. I’m hoping to get back there, but via exercise and good habits. 😇

How many cars have you owned in the past decade?

-Two.

Fun prompt! 🥳

~*~

Image snagged from Rory!

©️2020 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Thursday Inspiration 38

Welcome to Thursday Inspiration! This is my weekly prompt post and hopefully it will inspire you to write something creative, perhaps a poem or a piece of flash fiction. If you’d like to share your writing with the community, please indulge me and tag your post with #p0eticlicense and/or #lightm0tifs, and of course link back if you wish. I will try to visit everyone who participates. 🙂

This week’s theme is sunshine and the picture is below. Here is the song snippet from “Sunshine (Go Away Today)” recorded by Jonathan Edwards in 1971:

Sunshine go away today
I don’t feel much like dancing
Some man’s come he’s trying to run my life
He don’t know what he’s asking

~*~

Image from the Happy Color app.

©️2020 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Song Lyric Sunday ~ La

It took me a while to come up with a song for Jim’s “la” this week cuz fa-la-la-la-la was stuck in my head! Arghh! But finally one floated into my brain. It’s “Shambala” by Three Dog Night. The lyrics were written by Daniel Moore in 1973. It was recorded by B.W. Stevenson and Three Dog Night, but only the TDN version was a smash hit. Stevenson’s is shorter and more country/twangy ~ it peaked higher in South Africa than TDN’s. TDN’s version peaked at 3 on the Hot 100 in the US.

The lyrics refer to the mythical kingdom of Shambhala, which is supposed to be in the Himalayas. It’s mentioned in various ancient texts, according to Wikipedia. But first the temple was in Peru. What? Idk! Religious stuffs… whaddaya gonna do? Just roll with it. Anyway, in this religion all people are good and kind and cooperate with each other so everyone is free from stress and full of joy. That sounds nice. Okay then…

Shambala by Three Dog Night

Wash away my troubles, wash away my pain
With the rain in Shambala
Wash away my sorrow, wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala
Ah, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind
On the road to Shambala
Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind
On the road to Shambala
Ah, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
How does your light shine, in the halls of Shambala
I can tell my sister by the flowers in her eyes
On the road to Shambala
I can tell my brother by the flowers in her eyes
On the road to Shambala
Ah, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
How does your light shine, in the halls of Shambala

~*~

Image from Jim Adams

©️2020 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Thursday Inspiration 37

Welcome to Thursday Inspiration! This is my weekly prompt post and hopefully it will inspire you to write something creative, perhaps a poem or a piece of flash fiction. If you’d like to share your writing with the community, please indulge me and tag your post with #p0eticlicense and/or #lightm0tifs, and of course link back if you wish. I will try to visit everyone who participates. 🙂

This week’s theme is winding and the picture is below. Here is the song snippet from “Everyday Is A Winding Road” recorded by Sheryl Crow in 1996:

Everyday is a winding road
I get a little bit closer
Everyday is a faded sign
I get a little bit closer to feeling fine

~*~

Image from the Happy Color app.

©️2020 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Laura’s Music Challenge 38

Laura ends the year on a musical note by bringing back her song challenge and asking us to post 5 videos about beginnings, endings and/or looking forward.

Happy New Year! 🥳🥳🥳

~*~

Image from Bitmoji.

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Song Lyric Sunday ~ Crazy

Jim gives us a good word this week… there are a lot of songs I like with some crazy in ’em. I decided to go with “Crazy on You” by Heart because I just love that band so much. The lyrics were written by Ann and Nancy Wilson in 1975 and released on their debut album Dreamboat Annie in 1976. It was about forgetting the problems of the world in order to enjoy one night of passion, inspired by the tragedies of the news about the Vietnam War and social unrest. The song did well though it never hit number one, and it’s still in rotation today on classic rock stations.

Dreamboat Annie by Heart

If we still have time, we might still get by
Every time I think about it I want to cry
With bombs and the devil, little kids keep coming
No way to breathe easy, no time to be young
But I tell myself that I was doing alright
There’s nothing left to do tonight
But go crazy on you, crazy on you
Let me go crazy, crazy on you
My love is the evening breeze touching your skin
The gentle sweet singing of leaves in the wind
The whisper that calls after you in the night
And kisses your ear in the early light
And you don’t need to wonder, you’re doing fine
My love, the pleasure’s mine
Let me go crazy on you, crazy on you
Let me go crazy crazy on you, oh
Wild man’s world is crying in pain
What you gonna do when everybody’s insane
So afraid of one who’s so afraid of you
What you gonna do, oh
Crazy on you, crazy on you
Let me go crazy, crazy on you
I was a willow last night in my dream
I bent down over a clear running stream
I sang you the song that I heard up above
And you kept me alive with your sweet, flowing love
Crazy, yeah, crazy on you
Let me go crazy, crazy on you, oh
Crazy on you, crazy on you
Let me go crazy, crazy on you, yeah
Crazy on you, crazy on you
Let me go crazy, crazy on you, oh

~*~

Image from Jim Adams

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Thursday Inspiration 36

Welcome to Thursday Inspiration! This is my weekly prompt post and hopefully it will inspire you to write something creative, perhaps a poem or a piece of flash fiction. If you’d like to share your writing with the community, please indulge me and tag your post with #p0eticlicense and/or #lightm0tifs, and of course link back if you wish. I will try to visit everyone who participates. 🙂

This week’s theme is skating and the picture is below. Here is the song snippet from “Skating Away” recorded by Jethro Tull in 1974:

Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day

~*~

Image from the Happy Color app

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.