"Renegade" by Styx

Heard this on the radio and couldn't remember who did it...

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXhuso4OTG4
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOQ4pkUAFbA
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkGQGz7dvTs

---

Betsy DeVos such a nightmare...

Education secretary Betsy DeVos shuts down investigations surrounding for-profit colleges that fraudulently misguide students about job placement and salary rates following graduation:

Daily Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swKA0hAMufU

"Everywhere I Go" by The Call

Funny, I thought of the same song ("I Forgot That Love Existed") as last year around this time.  Which isn't quite right because I have to say I never knew love like I get now even existed.  I had no clue that just people everywhere I go could be so caring and loving.

On this Thanksgiving Day, first and foremost, I am so very thankful for all the incredible, compassionate, loving, caring people in my life.  I seriously had no idea that you could find this kind of love in the world.  Almost everywhere I go.  It is so incredibly amazing I don't even know how to explain it.  I feel love, compassion, caring, acceptance, kindness, from literally hundreds of people.  I'm living proof that a trans* person can have a wonderful life.  My greatest hope is that someday all trans* people can have the happiness, joy, love and acceptance that I have in my life.

This is probably something that you probably don't hear everyday:  I'm so very, VERY thankful that I am transgender!!  In addition to all the amazing people and friendship and love that I talked about above, I feel it made me a better human.  I feel like before I was so focused on how much I hated myself and trying to find any way to make myself happy, I was a selfish prick.  It still kinda blows my mind that the secret to happiness for me was just living as my authentic self: A WOMAN.  I can't even describe the joy I find in knowing I'm a woman.

And it made me so much stronger and braver.  Sue tells people that there is NO WAY you would have ever caught Scott (my dead name) up on stage in front of people, none the less singing. Which is another reason I'm thankful for being transgender.  I originally started singing as a way to try to feminize my voice.  Then I discovered it is just as fun to sing in a male voice too.  I now have over 500 videos of me performing.  In this year that has just been so very, very hard, singing has been one of the main things that got me through it.  So many times I have gone to karaoke in severe pain, just feeling like death was upon me and left feeling like a million dollars.

I can't really describe how much I hated myself before.  I must've wished tens of thousands of times I had never been born, never existed, went to sleep wishing and hoping I would not wake up in the morning.  The first time I looked in the mirror and saw a woman looking back at me was the first time I ever truly loved myself.  It is so very wonderful to look in the mirror and be happy with who you are!!

And loving yourself is absolutely crucial when you have a nasty disease like MS to deal with every moment of everyday.  I have wondered so many times this year how my old self-loathing self would have ever survived this disease and this brutal year.  Loving myself and having all of you wonderful loving, kind caring,  people out there that support me and constantly lift me up, is what have carried me through.

I am also so very, very thankful to have Sue, my (I think we are currently calling it) Platonic Life Partner / BFF / Housemate.  She is the one who picks me up when I fall, both literally and metaphorically.  I have a book titled "She's Not the Man I Married" and in the beginning of the book they say so few marriages survive

Lastly, in a way, I'm thankful for some of the things that MS has given me.  It got me out of a job where I don't feel there is any way I would have ever dared come out as a woman.
strength to to battle MS, Mono

In a way even thankful for MS because it allowed me the time (without a job) to explore and discover who I really was.  When I looked in the mirror and saw a woman looking back at me was the first time I ever loved myself.  It was an incredible moment!  So I'm thankful for me I love myself, who I am, the life I've led since I've been Rachel.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi-CfLsgLyk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zAtW0ijmgM
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3HhGtxCJmY
YouTube (extended): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W41kKq6TxU

"Cop and Go" by The Dead Weather

The wounds on my foot from the accident

I've no idea what show this was that I was watching and heard this song.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df38EkWSGUo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTOvomAETwk

"You May Be Blue" - Vetiver

I bought Lily 2.0 on Friday (11/22/2019)

And totaled her on Monday (11/25/2019)

When the bus hit me it was like my world exploded

I have been so depressed about totaling Lily 2.0.  It was so much nicer that Lily (1.0)!  It was so nice having a HEATER that worked, if nothing else.

It was a nasty snowstorm that day and I didn't dare drive Lily 1.0 with no defrost.  I stopped to check on the life insurance and when I pulled out onto Union Park Ave. I thought it was weird there were no other cars.

The one thing that was shitty in Lily 2.0 was the car stereo, it was pretty fucked up.  I looked down to fool with it and didn't see the red light at Creek Road.  All I saw was a yellow flash and the world around me exploded.

Again I don't remember what video I was watching with this song

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5xn-9A5B5Y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxGvrKhg_x8
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj3ZyYHk160

"New York, New York" (parody) by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Too funny!!!  I love it!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VTp-UFxEHA

"I Crept Into The Crypt and Cried" by Homer & Jethro

I heard this on a reel-to-reel tape a couple of weeks ago.

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-RjeAd9am8

YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSuCdVNgSDI

YouTube (vinyl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs0k_6vLlWM

"Crime After Crime" by Jen Houston

Hilarious, but unfortunately spot on.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnFQ4s5MQzY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXfAEtaKLsw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YA6zNKLVD0

"Time and Tide" by Basia

I love me!  (I really do!)  I started this post month's ago (I'm writing this on 26-February-2020) and now I have NO memory of what I wanted this post to say!  But it is a fun photo I made above, I have NO idea where I was going with it.  Sigh!!!

Anyway, this was a special song for me, one of the epic ones.  Life certainly took it's course.

I can't even wrap my head around the concept that the live TV video was from Johnny Carson

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1mfwY7gsQ
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5x_DXCF6nk
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtWgL0YBeaQ
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnmaTvrhGIU

"Wish I Knew You" by The Revivalists

This popped up in a playlist when I was doing a search for me.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Pt7M0weUI

"Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode

A very old splice didn't hold

I was rewinding this old tape and a really, really old splice let loose.  And just for the record this has nothing to do with Depeche Mode, they were a decade or two after this tape.

#ReelToReel

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSKrC7dGcY
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_3dc6X-Iwo
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9WtBo9b3WI

"I Am Enough" by Daphne Willis

A beautiful LGBTQ Ballet

#ComingOutDay
#Transgender
#Lesbian
#TransLesbian
#LGBTQ
#LGBTQIA+

A perfect song and ballet for Coming Out Day!  It made me cry, even more so when the two girls kissed.  Made me SO happy!!

It is very hard to feel like you are enough, especially when you are a trans-lesbian.

YouTube (LGBTQ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjbmzpt83ys
YouTube (official): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm-E33zgxXQ

"Runaround Girl" by The Portraits

At the Walk of No Shame

I was playing an old reel-to-reel tape with some recordings from the radio, I would guess sometime in the 60's, and it had this song.

But this song reminds me one of the speakers at the "Walk of No Shame" event last week, talked about how the definition in the dictionary, of Stud and Slut are exactly the same.  If you're a boy/man with multiple partners, you are a "stud" and that's cool.  If you're a girl/woman and you have multiple partners you are a "slut" and viewed with disgust.

#WalkOfNoShame

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfkHHHTc1iM

YouTube (vinyl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJiZEUIXXVU

"Sweet Transvestite" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Our dear friend Branton was killed on 26-Sept-2019

News articles:

IdahoStateJournal: https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/local-man-dies-after-being-ejected-during-crash-on-interstate/article_911e93ef-7ce1-5893-8b44-22be7d5906fe.html
CacheValleyDaily: https://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news/archive/2019/09/26/former-hyde-park-man-dies-in-traffic-accident/
CacheValleyDaily: https://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news/archive/2019/09/30/branton-hale-burgess/
EastIdahoNews: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2019/09/24-year-old-killed-after-being-ejected-from-car-in-crash/
KPVI: https://www.kpvi.com/news/local_news/fatal-accident-on-interstate-near-inkolm/article_26ae1522-e00f-11e9-8e35-2f8b8da35ae0.html
NewsBreak: https://www.newsbreak.com/utah/hyde-park/news/0MwxtWwx/former-hyde-park-man-dies-in-traffic-accident
Facebook(CacheValleyTheaterCo.): https://m.facebook.com/CacheTheatre/posts/3057803340927764

Branton Burgess was just amazing!  Such a sweetheart!!  I remember the very first time I went to the Tavernacle for karaoke, I am always nervous going into a place I've never been before.  Branton got up and performed this song and he looked at me and smiled the whole time.  It made me feel so much more welcome and at ease.  I know absolutely he performed it that night for me.

I tried to find a video of Branton performing this song, I was sure I had recorded him performing it at some point, but I could not find it.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDKyj35ew0E
YouTube (movie clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCZDWZFtyWY

"Information" by Elliot Sumner

Finished watching "Freak Show" today (see yesterday's post).  Another song used in the "Freak Show" film.

Google: Freak Show

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD4b0fSuB6c

"Say Anything You Want" by Elliot Sumner

Just got the DVD of "Freak Show" and this is played in the film and also plays in the main menu.  Such a fun little film.  Love this song.

#MovieReview - I give "Freak Show"  #FiveStars *****

Google: Freak Show

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQr5JCUZ2lE

"Misery Is A Butterfly" by Blonde Redhead

I came across this song yesterday on Heidi's iPod Classic, which she let me borrow / take or something.  So many bazillions of amazing music out there that I have never come across.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP07_iaUwb4

"Tenderly" by Al Hirt

Shazam'd this somewhere, now I can't remember where.

This is the first time I've heard this in a YouTube: the needle gets stuck at one point and catches several times before going on.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Dbmc1SdNQ
YouTube (vinyl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk7A1j1eZEE

"Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk

Shazam'd this probably on 103.1 The Wave

Great song and very true...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3VqAsMXE7o

"The Greatest" by Cat Power

I've been watching kind of an odd film: My Blueberry Nights and this song is featured throughout the film.

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Blueberry_Nights

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMU9m13ZTek
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT9qM99l9Yk
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFwog5TVGl0

"Hello Stranger" by Samantha Fish

One of my favorite song for decades, this is a lovely, fresh version.

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC4QEw2px2E
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exRjNngh09Q
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LcWbZk2oDY

"Maybe That's What It Takes" by Alex Parks

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8E00PVrWw
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6JPo57He20

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day

Possibly my favorite Green Day song... yeah definitely!

I owned a green Ford Galaxy of almost that same vintage, just a couple of years older.  I remember changing the water pump in -17 degrees.  Yeah, one bolt at a time...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soa3gO7tL-c

"Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar

I can't remember now how this came up...

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

"Nightlife" by IAMX

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb_cMH8tfcg

"I Know a Place" by Petula Clark

Photo I took in Washington Blvd. in Ogden a few weeks ago

I was working on a depression again this morning.  What is it about holidays (I was very depressed on the 4th of July too).  I was playing an album that had "Downtown" on it and I was thinking about the line "linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty".

That reminded me of another favorite song: "Neon Rainbow" by the Box Tops (see my post for 12-Nov-2012) and I started to think about how the "Neon Rainbow" is gone.  There aren't many neon signs left downtown anymore.

I'm pretty sure that building above, had neon lights back in the 60's.

Anyway, I already posted "Downtown in my old blog back on 8-Nov-2012.  I always thought this song was reminiscent of "Downtown", so I thought I would post it for today.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wORh2Zo9kS0
YouTube (Live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btLre4wD04U

"Ebony Eyes" by Bob Welch

I'd forgotten what a great song this is!

#Shazam

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

"I'm In You" by Peter Frampton

I had completely forgotten about this song.

#Shazam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3hz75ZPMd0

"You're the Only Woman" by Ambrosia

Heard this on Sue's playlist - couldn't remember artist at first.  Crazy, given Ambrosia was my favorite artist for many years.

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

"Bedlam Town" by Bill Baylis · Julie Tulley

Heard this 80's song (which I don't remember hearing before) in the film "Blue is the Warmest Color".

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Is_the_Warmest_Colour

I loved this film, despite 3 hours of subtitles that were pretty brutal.  A review I read somewhere said you would feel so many emotions.  So true!  I cried a lot at the end.  Although the sex scenes were a very small portion of the film, they were quite... um, I don't know... interesting?  ;)

#FiveStars *****

YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YjcD2hmxXk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJePOEopm5o

"Don't Cry" by The Lost Patrol

I'm going through my Shazam's a couple of months after this and going back and posting them on the date I Shazam'd them posting them.  I can relate to the opening line of this song at this point, I feel like some of my friends have deserted me and I feel kind of alone.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_x6d3YxNcc

"What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" by Information Society

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijAYN9zVnwg

"In For The Kill" by La Roux

Shazam'd this, can't remember where

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXtATeQ7GKg

"Out of the Black" by Billie Marten

I Shazam'd this, can't remember where now.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_zM_VC0Vpc
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEjzBgMTJhc

"Dream Within a Dream" by Propaganda

Always freaks me out when I think of some song that is epic to me and discover I haven't posted it yet.  I saw a comment that this album was genius.  Absolutely!!!

YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCwprmSA2Lo

"Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5

Funny the official video starts out with some people doing karaoke...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Cti12XBw4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=892Z6nvxwvs
YouTube (lyric): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRELxKLERAk

"I Feel Love" by Donna Summer

We were talking about bodies and my friend texted me me this earlier today:

"Here's the thing - we all got handed our bodies. But there's only so much we can do with them. (I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir for someone who's been stuck with one they don't identify with.) but what's really beautiful is seeing, knowing, LOVING people that fight for justice and love in this world every day despite incredible obstacles. I know that I would be a gloomy asshole if I had to fight my body every day, and you show up, you smile, you hug people, you do it. You do this as much as you can. I'm sure you rest (hope) but you don't ever stop. I'm in absolute AWE of you. I just want you to know that."

I totally feel the love from so many people, it often feels really crazy!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm-ISatLDG0

"Stigmata" by Ministry

I so remember dancing to this at Club DV8, this was the song that got me out on the dance floor.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxaPj19VnRA
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4HO8cdJBko

"Juice" by Lizzo

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaCrQL_8eMY

"Scars To Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara

This song and video always makes me cry.  This song says it all!

You should know you're beautiful
Just the way you are
You don't need to change a thing

#YouAreBeautiful
#YouAreBeautifulJustTheWayYouAre
#TransIsBeautiful

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWASeaYuHZo
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWfjlIMiqBg

"Last Time Forever" by Squeeze

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9m_uVZ_f2E
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HsxcVSO8qE

"When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zepplin

This is fucked up - formatting info I didn't want?

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwiTs60VoTM
YouTube (Drums): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZYDDX1DHDU

---

First off let me say that until a few days ago I was completely unaware of any issues with Rock Camp. I have absolutely no details what-so-ever about them and cannot speak to them. I can only share my personal experiences with Rock Camp.

This upcoming session will be my 8th time of volunteering at Rock Camp. I would guess that I am the oldest volunteer, so I have had a lot of experiences in my life. I have told many, many people over the last couple of years that Rock Camp has been one of the best experiences of my life, if not THE BEST experience.

For those who don't know I was diagnosed with MS a little over 8 years ago (and had it for several years before it was diagnosed). Because of the MS I lost my last full time job 8 years ago. I definitely don't have much endurance these days.

So I was really worried before the first session that I would not have enough stamina to even do it. I was absolutely amazed that not only did I make it through the days, but I felt so uplifted and empowered at the end of the day.

As a transgender woman I was also nervous before that first session, how I would be accepted. I was delighted to find that not only was I welcomed with open arms, but there were other trans-women and non-binary people there. It felt so wonderful! I have witnessed the efforts, by the camp, to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ people.

As to the boundary issues, I haven't observed that happening.myself. I can say that at every single volunteer orientation they have been very adamant about boundaries. it makes me sad that some people violated those rules. I would hope that we can all work to fix that in the future.

I am absolutely certain that Rock Camp has changed many, many young people and adults lives. I absolutely believe that Rock Camp empowers, uplifts and improves peoples lives. It has been incredible to see the incredible difference between how those young people are on Monday morning and when they hop up on stage at the showcase on Saturday!

As to my personal experience, I can say with absolute certainty that Rock Camp changed my life. The last couple of years have been extremely difficult for me. Worsening MS symptoms and I've had "reactivated" Mono both last year and this year.

Rock Camp and all the people involved have lifted me up and given me strength. Plus the one thing that has helped me get through these difficult times is singing. Karaoke has become my escape. I owe a good deal of my finding the courage to do it to Rock Camp.

Like that very first time when I was trying to be brave enough to get up on stage and sing, the #1 thought in my mind was all those young people who were brave enough to get up on stage and perform their songs. (As a side note: every single song I have ever heard at Rock Camp has been incredible, absolutely AMAZING!)

I know absolutely that Rock Camp saves lives! It is well within the realm of possibility that Rock Camp saved MY life!

"Sit Still, Look Pretty" by Daya

One of my dearest friends said some things that were a little worrisome, but she refused to give me any details.  Just that I should now worry and just be happy.  I felt like it was kinda like "sit still look pretty".

#SSLP

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPHKkewD1G0

"It's O.K." by The Beach Boys

Last Sunday I had agreed to sign a song for the Leather Pride event.  It turned out to be an epic fail  :(
I'm trying to get to a place where "It's O.K."!

I was very worried that I couldn't depend on remembering the lyrics of that song, but my printer was broken so I couldn't put the lyrics (should've just gone to Kinko's) so I copied the sheet music and took the 7 pages with me.

I got there and it was outdoors and an uncovered stage, just a raised platform.  When I got there the entertainment director told me I was on first (lovely!).

There were no stairs or railing to get on stage just a cinder block.  Just as I stepped onstage it started raining.  I don't have good control of either of my hands, but my left hand is better than my right, so I thought I could hold the sheets in my left and peel them off and drop them as I sang with my right.

Except they had no mic stand so I had to hold the mic in one hand.  The sheets were partially wet by the time I started singing.  I think after about the second verse a gust of wind came along and blew a few of the remaining sheets right out of my hand.  It was pretty much over by that point.  :D

Anyway, I dug these two old Beach Boys 45's out and this was another great Beach Boys songs from the later years.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocUX6u1fOLI
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btzXOLr8Q0M
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3KFrB2CFZE

"Pain Lies On The Riverside" by Live

It's crazy how many songs I love that I've never thought to post before!

#Shazam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6_TGfDKpCM
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBn_syTbRGc
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP5XavjhhQc

"Walk On Water" by Thirty Seconds To Mars

You should definitely watch this video, filmed in one day: 4-July-2017

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44NYFvhXmW8
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA2w-PMKspo

"Closed Mouth" by Talia Keys and The Love

I'm finishing this post some several months after I started it.  I don't know why or how I came to post it on this day.

#TaliaKeys
#TMFK

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

"End of the Line" by The Traveling Wilburys

Amen, it's alright...

#Shazam

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

"Sail" by AWOLNATION

I blame it on my ADD too!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgIqecROs5M

"Compulsion" by Martin L. Gore

Yet another song I'm astonished I haven't posted before now...

YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzW_DGL-GKo
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3WQEOTyzXs

"Love Is" by Talia Keys and The Love

One of the photos I took at the concert on 12-Jan-2019

Went and saw Talia Keys and The Love play last night at The Garage on Beck Street.  It was an incredible show!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zWrHriGyRM

"Everyone Everywhere" by New Order

Thinking today that at the end of the day, I know absolutely 100% for certain, no shadow of a doubt that I have made Salt Lake City more magical.

YouTube (remastered): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNnNNJxcqJk

"Times Change" by New Order

I can agree "Elect a Clown, Expect a Circus"!

Trump is just one of the WORST human beings ever!!

I found these two speeches by parents at gay weddings.  I started crying just thinking about this happening, I didn't even have to watch the videos.

#GayWedding

YouTube (mom's wedding speech): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a94cR4f3BRM
YouTube (dad's wedding speech): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peVTewkX-nU

This is another great song off New Order's "Republic" album.  I consider it one of the best albums EVER.  I've just played this album over and over for all the years since I found it.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DROu5lwk0Ws
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0diKUGcWkw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcLRnx4sVNk

Here's live instrumentals:

YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdIllSdEgr0
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CofzdMbeh6s

"Do You Dream In Colour" by Bill Nelson

Had lunch with some of SueZQ's family.today.  Amy asker her dad if he dreamed in color and it reminded me of this song.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFU60VtI_70
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwRZ0HW9-aw
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK2VyG7yzJw

"High Time" by Kacey Musgraves

Another great song from the "Pageant Material" album.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO7qC-fD97c
YouTube (Live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BOPFBeDGBU
YouTube (Live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEuAcxEb8cU

"Liar" by New Order

A LIAR like on other!

It's hard to wrap your head around!!

Another song from one of my favorite albums of all time!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhOBC70eZY4
YouTube (remaster): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbClAbg8p_s

President Trump has made more than 10,000 false or misleading claims:

YouTube (Wash. Post): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGE1b3Eephw

"Chlorine" byTwenty One Pilots

Old 8" floppy disks

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJnQBXmZ7Ek

---

Joe Biden enters the race and Trump hits the 10,000 lies mark:

TouTube (Late Night): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwGjVGkL6Qc

"Cold" by Meg Meyers

Came across this on YouTube tonight, I love it.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GHT8NYffvY

"Greenfields" by The Brother's Four

Took my little record player out and laid in the sun and listened to The Brother's Four "Greatest Hits" album.  A little slice of heaven.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46o1joHp7t0

"Get the Message" by Electronic

Heard this on 103.1 The Wave today

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqC2eT5vI9w
YouTube (vinyl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP0sxgJZ0A4

"Guns, Guns, Guns" by The Guess Who

Old acrylic computer case that SueZQ painted the FreeBSD Beastie on

For Earth Day we cleaned a bunch of stuff out of the garage and took it for recycling.  I loved this old computer case, in retrospect I should have tried to find it a good home.  Since the MS I just don't think clearly or quickly.

Anyway, that was back in the day that I used the FreeBSD operating system quite extensively.  I notice on their websit that they are celebrating 25 years: https://www.freebsd.org/

I love this song, back in the day I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics.  I love the line "Godspeed Mother Nature.  I'm weeping, I'm crying for you/"  Even more so today than the it was 50 years ago.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHjyYmH6pvQ
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqa11JhipPQ
YouTube (Live 2004): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uMmA3FjTbQ

---

So I requested sing this song one night at the Tavernacle and Kevan forgot to tell me there was no karaoke version of "Gun, Guns, Guns", so I performed "Year of the Cat" instead.

YouTube (Year of the Cat) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvxmuwi8O4Y

"Non E Varo Ma Ci Credo" by Swing Out Sister

My friend Nicole's new tattoo

I love my friend Nicole's new tattoo.  What a beautiful phrase: "And then she stood up...".  And the three dots say that her story doesn't end there  ;)    She is such a strong woman, she gives me strength.

This came on my MP3 player in the car the other day and  it struck some chord with me and I played it over and over again for the remainder of the trip.  It was bringing up some emotions in me that I needed to feel and I couldn't let it stop.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfAxnZo4T70
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCYSaG2S7w0

"It's My Life" by Bon Jovi

Before I had no idea how happy I could be!!

Today is the 4 year anniversary of the day I transitioned my  blog from my old "Scott's Vital Music" to this blog.  It is still unbelievable to me how incredibly happy I have been since I've been living as Rachel.

#Transgender
#TransIsBeautiful

June 2014: First time in a skirt and heels in public at Utah Pride Festival
September 1st, 2014: started volunteering at the Utah Pride Center
October 2014: my doctor retired and the new doctor I was assigned has done gender transitions
November 2014: Attended my first Genderevolution Conference
End of January, 2015: started HRT (Hormone Replacement  Therapy)
March 2015: started coming out to a few people
March 27th, 2015: got "outed" because somebody noticed I had breasts
March 31st: went full time as a woman (stopped wearing men's clothes)
April 12th, 2015: transitioned my blog from https://scotts-vital-music.blogspot.com/ to this blog
May 5th, 2015: the judge signed my legal name and gender change

I transitioned from my old blog with "It's My Life" by Talk Talk to this blog with "It's My Life" by No Doubt.  Wendy made me a CD for my "Coming Out" that had this song on it and I have never remembered to post it until now.  So this is perfect, appropriate for my 4th Anniversary of my blog transition.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yt9Xfo4VN4

"Everyday I Write the Book" by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

A few of the places Lily and I have visited

It was a little over 4 years ago, when I was in the process of transitioning, I was at a support group.  It was the very first week of March 2015.  There had already been several transgender suicides and several transgender murders.  We were brainstorming to see if there was anything we could do to somehow improve the situation.  The only thing anyone could come up with was: people need to see and be around more trans people.  See that we are just people and we aren't trying to do anything nefarious.

I ended up taking that to heart.  I dress for me, but it turned out the way I normally dress makes me stand out.  I like to wear nice dresses or skirts and I almost always wear high heels every day.  Several of my friends have said that I dress "to the 9's".  Which is good because that makes me stand out and get noticed.  I can't even count the number of people, strangers that have complimented me on how I dress.

I try to be friendly with everybody and interact one-on-one with people.  It has worked out amazing for me, it is absolutely how much love I feel from people.  It has been 180 degrees opposite from how I feared people would react to me.  I feel like I can say there are hundreds of people that love me.

I make every effort to avoid drive-ups whenever possible.  I make every effort to go inside banks, credit unions, fast food places, etc. and do my business.  When you are doing whatever through a car window, you generally interact with one or maybe two people.  Plus they only see a smaller portion of you, I.E. what you see through a car window.  I believe it is far better to go into the business, the odds are good that more employees see me and possibly interact with me.  And all the other customers inside  the business can see me.

When Lily and I went to the Women's March in Las Vegas in 2018

As far as Lily (the "Transmobile") goes, I made efforts to make her as visible as possible.  I had planned to paint the Transgender Pride Flag on both sides of Lily, but I never found time to paint the flag on the passenger side.  Therefore, it took a little more effort to make sure the trans flag was visible as much as possible.

One of the privileges MS gave me was having ADA plates on Lily, so I had access to the nice parking spaces.  I tried, whenever possible to park Lily in the parking spaces (ADA or not) with the best visibility from the entrance to and, more importantly, exit from the business.  I wanted the people exiting the office, business, parking garage, whatever to see her.

When driving Lily around, I always tried to optimize the number of people in other vehicles she was visible to.  On surface streets with multiple lanes in both directions (for example 700 East in Salt Lake City) I drove as much as possible in the leftmost lane.  That way there weren't other cars obscuring us and as many people as possible going in the opposite direction could see us.

The freeway is more tricky, it's really not a good practice to stay in the left lane, plus it's often isolated from the opposite traffic by barriers, etcetera anyway.  So my ploy on longer trips, for example on the way back home from the Women's March in Las Vegas was to stay in the right lane as much as possible and drive somewhat below the speed limit.  Lily's engine was not that happy for the trip home anyway, the engine felt like it was missing on one cylinder anyway.  So I drove more like 65 MPH on the way home and that way the vast majority of traffic passed us on the left and was able to see the Pride Flag.

#TransVisibility
#TransIsBeautiful

So I have tried to write a book on being visible.  And I feel like I can say that I have changed, at least, my little corner of the world.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekrzLtCKMJg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJRAIO119Q
YouTube (Vevo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1d4r9awjKE

"There! I've Said It Again" by Bobby Vinton

I've been watching Boston Legal and something in an episode I heard the other day reminded me of this song.

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

---

Stephen Colbert talking about the Mueller Report. 

YouTube (Late Show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_7wPf9geSM

"San Franciscan Nights" by The Animals

Me on the Corner of Scott Street in San Francisco in 1999

Me on the corner of Scott Street in San Francisco in 2009

Street sign Wendy and Troy gave me for Father's Day

I noticed last night that Talia Keys is playing in San Francisco next week.  This reminded me of the vow I made in 2009 to go back to San Francisco in 2019 and get another picture.

Of course, back in 2009 I had no clue that I would be Rachel instead of Scott in 2019.  My plan is to take the sign and hold it high above my head when I take the next photo.  I'm planning to wear the the same Swing Out Sister, maybe my famous red tennis skirt and red heels of course. :)

I have always *loved* San Francisco, it has always felt like home to me.  I'm certain that I lived there in some former life!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeAhG-dee2c
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4G3KPP1Nts

"I Lost on Jeopardy" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Somebody else got SueZQ's license plate!

SueZQ is always talking about how she is a misanthrope.  When I saw the license plate above...  well first, the programmer in me thought it might have something to do with Microsoft Network but rest didn't make sense.  Then that a-ha moment and realizing somebody got SueZQ's license plate.  :(

I didn't get to sleep until after 5:00 AM this morning.  I was telling my friend Nicole about it and she asked "Were you just anxious?  Or not feeling well?  Or both?".  I was thinking about the Jeopardy TV game show, so I answered: I'll take "Anxiety for $10".

After that I've had this song stuck in my head...

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

"Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn

I Shazam'd this the other day (Feb. 2nd) but now I can't remember where.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlCC1XojRzM
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLUCCewe_4c
YouTube (Vevo audio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI569nw0YUQ
YouTube (Live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoXvDleWJ5U
YouTube (Live TV); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kiMoCg1f9E

---

Came across the ads for Cartier today.  I have the philosophy of "Live simply so that others may simply live" so this whole concept is beyond me, but I like the videos:

YouTube (Cartier): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duLJrQSjIsk
YouTube (Cartier): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy19if5h6Nc

"The Beast" by Milt Buckner

One of the slides with our beast, I made for one of my videos

I have been watching "Sex and the City" on Amazon Prime.  At first I found it pretty funny, but the further into it I've gotten I've found it less funny and far more annoying.  I'm into Season 4 now and I'm so annoyed by the lead character, Carrie, that I very often want to just slap her!

Anyway this song was playing in the background in the episode I was watching last night and I just had to post it.

I so loved the "Ultra Lounge" CD's that Capitol released back in the 90's.  So very cool, cats!!  One of my favorites that this song was on was the "Bachelor Pad Royale" disc, that this number was on was on.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FBZXd-ngzc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OriJfIlF8ag
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PocMujvJ4B8
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKSEif87L9Y

---

Sounds like more dirty dealings, from our Beast/Moron in Chief...

Breaking: Federal Prosecutors Subpoena Donald Trump's Inaugural Committee | The Last Word:

YouTube (MSNBC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwXhobJy1u0

And I loved everything Spike Lee said when he was talking to Stephen Colbert.  And I love the "Agent Orange" nickname.

Spike Lee: Focus On Trump's Deeds, Not His Words:

YouTube (Late Night): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD5anowe3AI

"Bleeder" by Zombie Girl

I heard this last night on Cuzzin Brad's "Unrest on the Seventh Day" show on KCQN...  oops I meant 103.1 The Wave.

TheWave: http://www.1031thewave.com/show/unrest-on-the-7th-day/

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

YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN_kYMnT9A0

YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUR98ocAWdQ

"The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac

I thought track #5 on my old "Best of All #10" cassette was possibly Fleetwood Mac

I've been filling in my old (Scott's) blog with tracks from the old "Best of All" cassette tapes I made back in the 70's, 80's and I think into the 90's.

My old 2002 Prius has a cassette deck in it (it has always seemed so funny to me that a Hybrid vehicle would have a cassette deck in it).  And until it ate a cassette one day I was going through my cassettes and making track listings for them.  See my posts from 1-Mar-2013 and 13-Jul-2013.

Anyway, while I was trying to figure out what Fleetwood Mac song it was I decided this was a great song that I should post.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDG2m5hN1vo
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBYHwH1Vb-c

"Destination Unknown" by MIssing Persons

I was writing a message to someone on OkCupid and I finished up by saying that life is so strange...

YouTube (Vevo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WDly1Oc_P4

"Birthday Sex" by Unknown

Group for Roxie's (center) birthday party at the Tavernacle

It was a birthday party for Roxie last night at the Tavernacle.  It was a lot of fun!!

Two people did songs especially for Roxie and she danced (very sexy I might add!).  Unfortunately I don't know the name of the gentleman that performed this song, but I love his voice!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA3GBKEM4ew

The other song Chanelle did "Naughty Girl":

YouTube (Naughty Girl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjeYLUjv1Ik

"Another Brick in the Wall" by Talia Keys

Talia Keys performing at Piper Down 29-Jan-2019

Melahn showing me the digital mixer

Her whole show last night was just amazing!  I just loved her rendition of this Pink Floyd song.  So amazing that she did this solo!  (With Melahn's help on sound of course.)

While Talia was performing Melahn was showing me how their digital mixer worked on her iPad.  So incredible, compared with the old school mixers I've used.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na4d_KzXeLQ