Open Windows and Doors, and 70's Music

Yesterday was a gorgeous day in Northern California, the kind of day that promises that summer picnics, vineyards full of grapes and trips to the beach are near. The sky was a deep blue and all the doors and windows were open. Neighbors were walking their dogs, working in their yards, washing cars and readying their barbecues for a season of grilled chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs.

The two young men across the street were fixing an old automobile. The front car door was left open so they could listen to the CD player while they worked. I recognized all the music playing. It was the music from my life...from the 60s and 70s - Van Morrison, Creedence Clearwater, Buffalo Springfield and the fabulous Bob Marley. Now I am quite sure that neither were born in the 70s. They were probably not born until the mid 80s or maybe even the early 90s. It's their parents house so I am guessing it's also Dad and Mom's playlist. I love it when there's music in the air and I know the words to all the songs. And yes it definitely got me up and dancing.

The Playlist...

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress - The Hollies 

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison 

Spirit In the Sky - Norman Greenbaum 

Brandy - Looking Glass

Swingtown - Steve Miller Band

Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival 

Up Around the Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival 

The House of the Rising Sun - The Animals 

For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield 

Get Up, Stand Up - Bob Marley and the Wailers 

So what gets you up and dancing around the house?

More Music to Get You Up and Dancing

Update - Cool....This post is featured on the GenFab blog!

Lola and I Danced Today

Lola loves to dance with me. If I am busy and don't get around to it, she bugs me until we go into the kitchen or living room to dance. She knows a bunch of steps...conga, shimmy, the twist, flamenco and salsa. The girl has rhythm. Today we danced for twenty minutes. It improved my mood by 20%. Lola was all out happy from the words..."Lola, do you want to dance?"

Our Go To song... Koop Island Blues 

I Danced Today

This Morning I Danced in my Kitchen and Living Room for 20 minutes
Mood before - 5.5
Mood after - 7
Go to Song: Hey Eugene by Pink Martini 

Keep On Dancing

Fifteen minutes in my little dance world and I am a new woman... happier, more energetic, and feeling ready to take on the world and any problems I am trying to work out. How does that happen? I don't know but it works EVERY SINGLE TIME, and I have been doing it for years. The dancing doesn't have to be pretty. It just has to be enthusiastic. As a matter of fact, sometimes I think the uglier and sillier I dance the more it improves my mood. Dancing in the kitchen is not to be taken seriously.

The right music makes all the difference in getting me up out of my chair, away from my computer and dancing around my house. Here are 10 songs that are guaranteed to get me dancing. They are oldies but put a shimmy in my spirit, a strut in my walk and rhythm back into my soul! Guaranteed.

1.   Respect by the Queen of Soul - Aretha Franklin 

2.   Shake, Rattle and Roll by Joe Turner

3.   Born on the Bayou by John Fogerty

4.   Boogie Shoes by KC and the Sunshine Band

5.   Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham

6.   Louie Louie by The Kingsmen

7.   All Shook Up by Elvis Presley

8    The Shoop Shoop Song by Betty Everett

9.   The Clapping Song by Shirley Ellis

10.  Smooth by Santana