"Sex on Wheelz" by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

This has been a favorite of ours for a long, long time.  We remember buying it at Smokey's records that was on 15th East in Salt Lake when our friend Joe worked there.  That whole album was really good.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdLyoCgDKFs
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT3E0WgXDNE
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxR7oTEPAg
YouTube (Live 2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY749D8noDg
YouTube (Glamor Dyke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwJ4Iu-xX5g

"No New Tale to Tell" by Love and Rockets

I found another awesome video about transgender people by Jaclyn Glenn on YouTube this morning:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHfwgySRxsc

But when I saw all the hateful comments and that the likes and dislikes were almost equal (11,794 to 11,375) it was very disheartening!

One of the bigoted hater's clips she showed ranted about how we were not natural.  It reminded me of this song.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo3R3LBjDek
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaVsazogF8c
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESIOSPb2KGc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRrn67ovuRQ
YouTube (live 2008): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFl3ZHPX5Ns

"Misfit" - High Dive Heart

This song is from the "Transgender Teen Shares Powerful Story" video I included in my post last Thursday.  This a great song as I've always felt like a misfit and guess I really am.  I'm proud to be transgender and I'm proud to be a misfit!!

They teamed up with http://www.thebullyproject.com/ for the official video and it is an awesome video too!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUcRi50PLhk
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSh_vywoxNY
YouTube (teen): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiaDNq79Uc

"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash

I realized this morning that texting is a huge part of my problem and not a good solution for a quick update like "I'm on my way"!  It is too low bandwidth to discuss how I am or what I'm feeling!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FscIgtDJFXg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaqXY5IUIDc
YouTube (live TV 1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkwJ-g0iJ6w

"Wildfire" by Michael Martin Murphey

The "Yellow River" song I posted yesterday always reminds me of this song.

He talks a little about the origin of the song when he introduces it in the "Live 1986" video.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc3OnSQc48s
YouTube (album): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mye5OsyP1sA
YouTube (live TV 1976): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4TNGG3XIIY
YouTube (live 1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4Y4FWWkn0

"Yellow River" by Christie

This song came on my MP3 player earlier today.  The lyric "I'm so glad I'm still alive" struck me.

I think back on the bazillion times, before I transitioned, I wished I were dead.  I wished I had never been born.  I wished I had never existed.  When I went to bed I hoped and prayed I wouldn't wake up the next morning.  The hundreds of times I thought about suicide.

Now I AM SO HAPPY that I'm still alive!  Live is so wonderful and amazing since I became Rachel!!  It makes me cry to think about all the happinessw and joy I would have missed out on!  All of the incredible and amazing people I would have never met and never been able to enjoy their friendship.  Reminds me of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" (one of my favorite movies!).

If anyone reading this is struggling, please get help.  If any Trans* people are reading this, I plead you to please get help!  I'm absolute proof that you can have an amazing and wonderful life as a transgender person.

Trans Lifeline: http://www.translifeline.org/

#TransIsBeautiful

Actually any LGBTQ people...

The Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Or anybody for that matter, please, Please, PLEASE get help!

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:  https://www.afsp.org/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

I believe there are two different tempos here.  Maybe the single was sped up?

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsTCRmnlgPI
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T-7qB_GJ5g
YouTube (45 RPM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMDnLs0MWIw 
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsQzJrODzFs
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7nwBVPqKLA
YouTube (live 2008): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyiehaqVcJE

"Sweet Life" by Barry Manilow

There is no way I can ever explain how much better my life is since I transitioned.  I tell people all the time "I didn't know it was even possible to be this happy!".  It constantly amazes me how amazing it is to be a woman!  How proud I am to be a woman!  It really does feel like a "sweet life" indeed!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE-9S1FQ2zo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg6guesPsTM
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOmQhSWwbL0
YouTube (live audio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoXnUWAD3wI
YouTube (45 RPM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9leNbhFvCA

Found this cover version by a band called Punch.  The 45 RPM single has the stereo version on one side and the mono version on the other.

YouTube (Punch): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAFldR6uTPI

Yet another transgender video.  This one is so beautiful.  I hope this beautiful young girl has a sweet life!  I think she is well on her way.  :)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0v_idyvjco

"Sweet Smiling Children" by Johnny Rivers

I put this song in the same "strange but awesome song" category I was talking about last week.  I love the lyrics to this, like:

Tell all the sweet smiling children
about that one great pink candy love,
that's waiting somewhere in the dark
to change our lives and make us all worthwhile
but we already are, we just don't know it

Wow a song about consumerism!  I love the snipets from the old commercials from that era.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9IuJvu0kbg

And here's another "weird" kinda song I also found on the Rewind album.  It's called "Rosecrans Boulevard":

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQJWtydJszQ

Here's a link to the Johnny Rivers - Topic on YouTube.

"Magic Key" by Rare Earth

Love this album and I love a song about equality! Funny I played the sped up one first and thought "this sounds like it's playing too fast".  Then I noticed one of the other videos said it was sped up.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kdrooLDOxQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Jusfp2iX4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZ8O58BrvQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whb6DbCGD4Q
YouTube (sped up): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K24mgg2NgQ

I found another video rant (with a song) about the transgender bathroom issue:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdCDO3cxgbg

"I Sit on Acid" by Lords of Acid

I hadn't heard about the Target transgender bathroom issue until today.  While trying to find out what has been going on I found this awesome rant:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6-lx1DBbB4

I wanted to post "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John for the song today, but we already posted it right after we transitioned our blogs on 18-Apr-2015.

So I was thinking about this song the other day and so why not...

We went and saw Lords of Acid and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult several years ago and that was a great concert!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcbZUmLlNEo
YouTube (vinyl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob3VStzoSws
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K64SQFa8hHk
YouTube (Extended): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSdaagf6MZQ
YouTube (live 1988): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2lFKczReHY
YouTube (live 2000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra5xfMWRehY

"The Power IS Mine" by Lords of Acid

After the "Black Day" yesterday I was think of giving up on my plan for the Camaro.  But this morning I realized I have to hold on to MY power!  I CAN do this!  The POWER is MINE!

I know this song is kinky, but the title says it all...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDYjP0uLiDU

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXhV5ypkwwk

This is cool!  There is a remix on the B-side of a My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri8ndLIEcfQ

"Black Celebration" by Depeche Mode

I knew when I wrote that post last night it was a bold move!  I would say 2016 has been a bitch, but that would be one of the biggest understatements ever!  It would be like calling the RMS Titanic the SS Minnow that shipwrecked on Gilligan's Island.

Every time we told somebody we were "getting a handle on it" or anything along the those lines, 2016 has upped the ante and things got worse.  So the events today didn't surprise me in the least.

Everything I tried to do today was pretty much a fail.  I wanted to try to get a run in this morning.  Went to the Millcreek Rec. Center and they'd resurfaced the gymnasium and the VOCs were nasty.  I can't breathe that shit.  The young man at the desk told me that they weren't going to resurface the gymnasium at the Holladay Lions Rec. Center until next week so I ran over there.  I got in the Women's locker room and realized the locks I had are too small for those locks.  I checked their Lost and Found and they had the lock I had forgotten and left there several weeks ago, but I couldn't find the the key...

Never mind, I won't go into detailing the rest.  It pretty much went the same for everything I tried to do, culminating in an epic fail with the Camaro.  I hope I didn't damage the engine in some way!  Oh, I went over to our neighbors to see if I could put a Misty K. Snow sign on their side of the fence.  He told me if he was going to put any sign up it would be for Trump.  Swell!

Speaking of which, on Tuesday, Paige came up with the great idea of painting the Camaro black with a transgender flag on the hood and calling it "Black Celebration" after this song.

So I was feeling kinda down tonight.  But I was looking in the mirror and realized I'm still beautiful and amazing!  I LOVE ME and who I am!!  So you know what: I say FUCK YOU to 2016!  Let's ROCK!

We were actually listening to the "Black Celebration" (vinyl) record this morning and for the first time I realized what it was about:


So this song is absolutely perfect for today!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WtXSnh0Mu8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL5-Dpe2zsE
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXfbnS_BybQ
YouTube (live 1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t-5fkzVjiY
YouTube (live 1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2BSHNeQntY
YouTube (live 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsCyJht0yy4

"Into the Groove" by Madonna

I believe we finally have our groove back on!  We went to the Utah Sage BBQ earlier this evening and it was awesome!  First Misty K. Snow and her team were there.  We saw so many friends from the Utah Pride Center and LGBTQ community.  We were feeling the love.

Leraine Horstmanshoff was providing the music and it was absolutely delightful!  I was finishing my food from the potluck and Leraine was drawing names for the raffle.  She'd given away a few prizes and she says: "Who likes Olive Garden"...  I throw my hand in the air... "Rachel Edwards".  It was perfect timing!  It was like I just reached up and pulled it toward me.  It felt I was using The Force just like when Luke Skywalker holds out his hand and his light saber flies into it!  :)

So I believe I've got my Mojo working again, my good Karma back, The Force is with me, I've got my groove back on!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52iW3lcpK5M
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyAOLk9D-ao
YouTube (album): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8U22JtfuXs
YouTube (celebration): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8U22JtfuXs

"Mary C. Brown & The Hollywood Sign" by Dory Previn

I find the strangest and awesome songs!  I love songs like this!  I found this one on the same United Artist's album I talked about yesterday.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofhaKy7DJGw

"Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" by Jim Bailey

This ad for Clairol Nice 'n Easy popped up last night on YouTube (funny coincidence that it played the one about Tracey Norman, the first black transgender model LOL).  She says at the end: "Don't be afraid to live your truth.".  And the ad ends with "Let the real you shine through.".  Anyway I loved it, it made me cry :)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdqbYjivr1o

Jim Bailey is an amazing "female impersonator".  I wish I could sing like that!  Absolutely amazing!

I first discovered Jim Baily on a old "sampler" album.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1qmYYOIdys

"Burnin' for You" by Blue Oyster Cult

This drives me crazy!  I would have sworn I had posted this song years ago...

YouTube (Vevo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn-8n4QKUS4
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcMSFZZ-erw
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTvbXMRMnHo
YouTube (Live TV 1981): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0X5YpOkSz4
YouTube (Live 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1smfdddO9SA

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra

We were losing it yesterday morning.  Our body's male characteristics coming back.  Started feeling more like Scott.  I finally got to the point where I had to take my power back.  We are strong!  I have the power!

I originally posted this song back on 6-March-2015 when I was still presenting as Scott.  I've just decided that if I feel the need to post a song that is relevant to where I am today, I can move it and replace it with a different song in my old blog.  I.E. my blogs can be dynamic and shift.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rypT2qMO1RY
YouTube (live B&W TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwtzY-dR0aU
YouTube (live TV 1966): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5qx3fuTUHM
YouTube (live 1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6euoIYQLfY
YouTube (live 2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0NCj9dOSI

"I Need You" by America

I felt like I needed a certain someone this morning and this song popped into my head.  It took me a while to remember that it was by America.   They look so young in the one live video...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThTplavLL7w
YouTube (vinyl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMaojBogT34
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk-7n1hdK3M
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tIUIPc3Pdg
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwdcZ_zWRt4

"Say You Don't Want It" by One Night Only

Happened across this video this morning on YouTube and it reminded me of my BFF Carri.  It seems like this might be something she would like.  I'll have to send her a link.  I love the twist at the end.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF1WzzrLmpk

"Foxey Lady" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

I want to be a foxy lady... okay I'd have to be a foxy old lady.  LOL   But as long as I can look at myself and feel like a foxy lady, it's all good!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z3g8DJK-qU
YouTube (live 1968): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PVjcIO4MT4
YouTube (backing track): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjmzca8uqlE

"Melissa" by The Allman Brothers Band

I was at the front desk of the Utah Pride Center this afternoon I met a lovely trans-woman and when she told me her name was Melissa it reminded me of this song.

She had come in to donate a copy of the "Becoming Nicole" book.  It was funny because I had just happened across a Nightline clip and included it in my post on Monday.  I originally posted about hearing a program on NPR about Becoming Nicole back on 27-Oct-2105.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwbowi-8Yoo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5XJDxe7TVY
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR5PX-4pcno
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFJ20eNspzo
YouTube (live 1981): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uUbyTGOIxk

"Give a Damn" by Spanky and Our Gang

I just watched this clip where "Jon Stewart Takes Over Colbert's Late Show Desk":

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNiqpBNE9ik

I love the rant at the end and it is so true, the Right Wing Conservatives don't want any of us "sub-groups" to have a seat at the table.  They want to control everybody, they want everybody to act and think just the way they do.  Heaven forbid somebody should be different.

I've started going out in the back yard, putting a record on and laying in the sun for a few minutes.  It is so relaxing, the music, the sun on my skin, the wind rustling in the trees.  And I think a record is the perfect timer, when I turn the record over, I turn over.

Today I was playing "Spanky's Greatest Hits" and I still think it's still relevant.

I love the line "Come and see how despair is seasoned by the stifling air."

And there is a great sound bite towards the end (of the album version?):

"I think everybody's born equal, we all human beings.  So until I find somebody was born with their clothes on I don't figure they're no more than me."

Note: the lyric video doesn't have the actual song playing.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aciWaZkvXGI
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFwfe4Sjvmw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eqhOqy18c
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iynVoVBboQw

"How Do You Stop" by Joni Mitchell (feat. Seal)

Yesterday was extremely stressful.  In thinking back over it I can't even think of how it could have been avoided.  Certainly the major stressor would have been prevented if we'd had two key fobs for the Prius.  But until now we haven't had the money.  So I'm wondering how do we stop the stress?  It was just one thing after another yesterday.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOTQnJVDOiw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iU9ICnPfkI 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQhuO8PlOQ4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2qjhq-taGw

"Back in Baby's Arms" by Patsy Cline

In my blog post on 27-Oct-2015 I talked about a program I heard on NPR about "Becoming Nicole" about a transgender girl who was born with an identical twin brother.  This morning I found this Nightline clip about her:

YouTube: Becoming Nicole

One of my dad's favorite singer's is Patsy Cline, so in honor of his birthday I thought I would post one of my favorite songs by her:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBgQ5ZiphUs
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6JpVmZb4bI
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH9UmrBzyxc
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBI8ij8iyoU

"I Live for the Sun" by The Sunrays

Part of the Misty K. Snow team at the Ogden Pride Festival

I've included a photo of us at the Ogden Pride Festival, we met there after the parade yesterday (see yesterday's post).

---

I've been promising my therapist all year that I would cut out some time just to take care of ourselves.  I decided one way would be to go lay in the sun for a few minutes and just relax.  It felt so good with the sun on my skin and a light breeze blowing across me.

I got thinking how much different going to a tanning salon is.  Yeah it's faster, but it's such a different experience.  I don't think it's relaxing at all.  It's mostly out of your control.  You have to lay on hard glass (acrylic plastic?), you have to mess with timing, and worry about keeping those funny glasses on.  I'm claustrophobic so it feels uncomfortable.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JiMPVMCvUw
YouTube (45 RPM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hflx1fOZ9gg
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yus7IvioR_A

"Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crow

I went out to the Kearns Hometown Parade this morning to help Misty K. Snow's team in the parade.  It was so much FUN!!  I had such a great time and they are all so wonderful!

I ended up driving one of the Fiats in the parade and it was fun to drive.  This song came on the radio during the parade and I really loved hearing it.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIYiGA_rIls

"Love Potion No. 9" by The Searchers

Found yet another great Bill Maher clip:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HggNLz5fLFA

I feel a little weird about this clip, given that he is talking about my personal big political issue.  But I'm going to have to agree with him on this one: "I know we're liberals and there is an infinite list of issues to make the world a better place by making it less like Duck Dynasty.  But there's no room for boutique issues in an Armageddon election.".  We can't let Hillary lose this election over where we pee.  Donald Trump winning would be a disaster ob biblical proportions!  I saw another Bill Maher clip where they were talking about The Donald and one of the guys commented "Civilization had a good run!".   When I stopped laughing I realized it wasn't so funny.

Funny thing about this song, up until a couple of years ago I thought the line "I didn't know if it was day or night" in this song was "I didn't know if it would stay all night".

I remember seeing a book a few years ago title "Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy" about misheard song lyrics.  Too funny!  I just found a web page about misheard lyrics called KissThisGuy: http://kissthisguy.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36WVirpAieM
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAR_nTbcquc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rXhXLsNJL8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8b7iEgJog

"Sweet Surrender" by Sarah McLachlan

This song stuck a chord with me this morning...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2JWJYLNUq4

"What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye

I'm wondering what is going on with me.  My doctor increased my Estrogen (Estridiol) dose last Friday and sometimes I feel better.  Other times I'm not sure.  I can't understand how my Estrogen level could be causing some of the things that have been going on lately.  My beard filling in again and losing hair (male pattern baldness).  SueZQ has confirmed that she has noticed these effects too.  I would sure like to know what is going on!

This song is still so appropriate today: "Only love can conquer hate".

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Z-kjrSomw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-kA3UtBj4M
YouTube (live 1972): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbZYRZpNc64

"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by Joan Baez

This is another post I did not complete at the time so I finishing it almost 11 months after the fact.  I don't remember many details about why I chose this song.  It may have been that it popped up on YouTube or I heard it somewhere.  I really have to stop beginning these posts and then just letting them go.

#DraftPost

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_ksYL26lZE
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_eK9ERNChI
YouTube (45 RPM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2W0QZFguDE

"She Used To Be Mine" by Sara Bareilles

Finally a cry...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53GIADHxVzM