Dance, Dance, Dance the (winter) Night Away

The hus, kids and I were stuck in a rut. Cold dark days and long dark nights were getting to us. Evenings spent just staring or yelling at one another. Kids fighting, Hus falling asleep on the couch, Mama reading and silently wishing everyone would just go to bed already, so she could have control of the remote. Maybe it was cabin fever. In the summer there is much fun to be had, even in the evening. Swimming, walking, playing or just sitting on the porch sipping a beer watching supper go up in flames on the grill.

For Christmas we gave E an MP3 player. We weren't sure if it would work with our slow dial-up, and it is slow, but it does. It takes around 1.5 hours for 2 songs! We had so much fun downloading E songs that I went out and bought another player for the adults to use. Now we are actually having fun in the evening, spending hours listening, dancing and reminiscing to music. It has really perked up our family time. Hus and I like a lot of the same music but also can have very different taste at times. It was my Hus's spiky punky hairdo that attracted him to me in the first place. The first time I saw him, I knew, hoped actually, that he would like the same music as me. I was really tired of meeting people that only liked country,which is very common in Vermont. And, WOW, he knew all of my favorite bands, that pretty much sealed it for me. Now we have that connection again, we even slow danced in our kitchen last week. The kids are having a ball dancing and singing too. E has choreographed entire dances for her brother. (Then criticizes him when he makes a mistake!) I am glad we have found something to do to help get us through this long winter.

Here are some of the songs we have downloaded. I know, we are all over the place with our choices.

Romantic Slow Dancing
Sharing the Night Together by Dr. Hook
All That You Have is Your Soul by Tracy Chapman
Love is Stronger Than Death by The The
Just Between You and Me by April Wine
Sara by Fleetwood Mac
Night Swimming by R.E.M.
It Doesn’t Matter by Alison Krauss
Nothing Compares to You by Sinead O’Connor

Fast Fun Dancing
Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol
This is the Day by The The
Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant
Heart of Glass by Blondie
Lido Shuffle by Boz Scaggs
We Got the Beat by The Go Go’s

Weepy Dancing
Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad by Meatloaf
Touch Me in the Morning by Diana Ross
Wildfire by Michael Murphey
Angie Baby by Helen Reddy
Life in a Northern Town by The Dream Academy
I Don’t Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats

Silly Fun Dancing
James Bond Lives Down Our Street by The Toy Dolls
Hockey Monkey by The Zambonis
Common People by William Shatner
Ice Cream Man by Van Halen
Mary Mary by Run-D.M.C.
Wichita Lineman(live) by R.E.M.
Afternoons and Coffee Spoons by The Crash Test Dummies
Tequila by The Champs
Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners

Songs Only Mama Dances To
Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies
Mutiny In Heaven by Nick Cave and The Birthday Party
Like A Boy by Ciara
Punks Not Dead by The Exploited
Pain by Jimmy Eat World
I’m Not Okay by My Chemical Romance
Pretty Vacant by The Sex Pistols

Songs Only Papa Dances To
Excuse Me Mister by Ben Harper
Johnny Appleseed by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Take This Job and Shove It by Johnny Paycheck
Smoking Gun by Robert Cray

My Favorite Songs to Dance to Today
Tranquilize by The Killers
Virgin State of Mind by K’s Choice

What are you doing to pass time this long long winter?