The power of guilt...and dentist offices

Let’s start this thought provoking blog with just a few random comments.

-          A lot of people have been asking “why aren’t you on the show?” My focus is on other areas of the show these days, but here’s some good news! We’re starting to do Podcasts! I’m putting mine together now and I’ll tape it on Monday with a very special guest. Stay tuned for “Stuff With Shanon.”

-          Call me crazy, but I don’t want to go to a dentist office with a name that could also be used for a night club with shirtless men and glow sticks. Dentistry doesn’t have to be hip! Keep it simple. A doctor’s name will suffice for me.

-          I recently finished watching all of the Bourne movies for the first time. I have a couple of questions.

1.      Where in the heck does Jason Bourne get all the money he needs to travel and live?

2.      Does the Asset get paid like a person in a speaking role does? If not, they’re getting super screwed. So intense?

Now onto the serious stuff. I wrote most of this yesterday while I had Jake at my apartment. He slept for like an hour, but my mind was racing. So this is what I made a note of.

The Power of Guilt

Humans are funny creatures, aren't we? Isn't it amazing how we have so many gifts given to us, like opposable thumbs, the ability to feel emotions, and the brain power to think and create anything we could ever imagine...but a lot of humans still just suck at life?

We have the power to do so much good in this world, yet a lot of people choose to ignore their good and show all of their bad. Why? 

That's the question that makes me lose so much sleep at night. Why? 

I know that I'm not very book smart, but I think that I have a decent amount of emotional intelligence. (Thanks Taylor from the Bachelor) I have the ability to love, show empathy, laugh, and even rationalize things that I probably shouldn't. I know that most people in the world have the same capabilities, but they choose to ignore them and be complete jerk faces instead. 

I know that for me, guilt is a seriously powerful force. It causes me to think a lot about where I've been and where I'm going. It causes me to want to learn from my mistakes and do better in the future. It causes me to cry until I have snot dripping down my chin. It's powerful, isn't it? Not many things can do that to me.

I've been spending a lot of time lately thinking about guilt. I've been feeling it. Some of my guilt is justified while most of it is the crazy in me coming out. 

Last night I had a bit of a meltdown. Here's some insight into that. 

My sister and brother in law moved to Maui after my nephew, Ethan, and his grandpa, Rolando, drowned on July 13, 2011. They needed time and space to heal. While they were there my sister got pregnant and gave birth to Jake. He's 2 years old and asleep next to me right now. 

You can see lots of pics of both kids on my FB page. 

www.facebook.com/ThePsychoShanon

I worshiped the ground that Ethan walked on. To say that he was my world is probably an understatement. I didn't know how powerful the feeling of love could be until Ethan. 

When we lost him, I was devastated. I still am to some degree. I had never felt a pain quite like that before. It's still so vivid in my head. My sister’s call telling me about the accident. Every inch of road driving to the hospital. Seeing him and kissing him while he lay there in the hospital. 

I swore that I would never love anyone as much as I loved him. How is that even possible? I didn't know I was capable of that much feeling towards anyone else. Just like that, though, the person I loved the most ever was gone. 

A few years after that I get into a relationship where there are kids involved. Three of them. Before I knew it, I loved each of them as much as I knew how to. I structured my life around them. School pickup, homework, sick days, missed doses of medicine in the middle of the day at school, doctor’s appointments…whatever they needed, I wanted to be there. I loved them in their own ways. I had a different kind of connection with each of them. 

It wasn't usually easy. I allowed for my feelings to get hurt by kids who didn't know the weight of their actions and tantrums. But when you truly love people, you love them through the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between, right?

With the love I felt for those kids came guilt. Ethan would've been the same age as the little boy I called and treated as my own. Was he looking down on me upset because I loved another child...or three other kids...as much as my heart would allow? Did he feel like he was being replaced? 

That relationship ended and I'm not allowed to see or talk to the kids. That's the only part of it ending that bothers me. If I'm not wanted anymore, fine. It happens. But it seems really awful that when the kids think of me, the memory of me just not being there anymore is one that will be poignant in their minds. They didn't get to hear me say that grown up failures are no reflection of the way we feel about them. And I have no idea what was said to them about the situation. That’s scary and it sucks.

I do feel guilty for that, but it's not my choice. However, that guilt is still very present in my mind and heart. I know that they felt my love, but my leaving caused them confusion and pain. Again, not my choice, but that’s the reality. 

It's been a few months now and I still think of them often. I wish I knew how they were doing. I feel bad for the things that happened in their little minds after I was gone. I feel pretty terrible about the fact that, in the end, I was lead to believe that I was responsible for what was happening. Come to find out, that was a coward’s excuse for rocking everybody's world in the worst way possible. I took the blame for a while, but I don’t anymore.

The guilt in this situation is not where it belongs. I know that for sure. I was lied to and called crazy for saying outright what really was happening. Just more proof of the fact that life isn’t fair.

Shortly after I moved out of our home, my sister, brother in law, and nephew, Jake, moved back to Texas. It was finally my chance to get to know my nephew/God son. 

He's the best. He's so smart and funny. His spirit will make even the worst days seem better. However, I sometimes feel guilt for loving him this way. 

Does Ethan look down and think that I'm trying to replace him with his brother? 

That's SO stupid! My head knows that it's so ridiculous, but I can't help it. Does Ethan look down to see me with Jake and get upset about it? Does he know that while I love them both with my whole heart, that I love them in different ways? They're such different people. I talk to Jake about his big brother. We look at pictures together. It doesn't feel like it's enough, though. 

Then I start to get upset because maybe that feeling has caused me to hold back with Jake. Have I not shown him love to the fullest of my ability because of fear and guilt? That's so unfair! Why would any sane person allow guilt to impede their relationship with someone who's totally innocent and deserving? 

So last night I had some wise words thrown at me while I melted down. I can't change anything about the past. I cannot control how anyone else feels or how they deal with those feelings. I can, however, focus my energy on people who deserve it. Jake deserves for me to put my feelings of guilt aside and love him as much as I possibly can. I deserve the chance to give that to him. It's so rewarding. I don't deserve to live under a constant blanket of guilt anymore. Not for love that I’ve felt and not for the choices of other people. 

I know who I am as a person and I know that I'm worthy of good. I'm due for some good in my life. I deserve that. Murphy’s law can get the heck outta my life.

I don't deserve to be hindered by anyone else's feelings of guilt. This is one thing that can make people do some crazy stuff. It can cause a person to convince themselves of giant non-truths. Why? Because it's easier that way. It's easier to project your own screwed up reality onto other people than it is to honestly face it.

Someone at some point in my life told me that you don't know to look in the closet unless you've hidden there before. Before you go and try and place a guilt trip on another person, do some soul searching first. Chances are that the way you feel about others is a huge reflection of how you see yourself. 

In the end, we all have enough of our own personal reasons to feel guilty about stuff. We don’t need other people dog piling onto that. So try not to suck at life! Own your actions, feelings, thoughts, and everything else. Don’t give another person any power over you by allowing their words to lead you to a feeling of guilt. Seriously.

And listen to my podcast when it’s posted.

Thank you guys! I’m truly grateful to have people who will read my long naptime rambling.

-Shanon

Just like the essay I wrote in 3rd grade...what I'm thankful for

I’m grateful…

I’m grateful for many things in my life. I’m grateful that I was able to start the New Year off fresh. I got moved into my new apartment and, since I tried to do the right thing, I had to buy pretty much everything new. Here’s some other stuff that I’m thankful for.

I’m thankful for my family and friends. More specifically, I’m thankful for the family and friends who value me as a person. Not as a person who works where I do. Not as a person they think can get them tickets to concerts and stuff. (I can’t, BTW). But those who actually know what’s going on in my head and in my heart and love me through it all.

I’m thankful for my cat. I can’t stand him at times, but in the end, I would be lost without him. Maybe this sounds pathetic. It’s OK. He’s my fur child and I’m glad I have him.

I’m also thankful that I’ve been through enough crap that I’m trying to look at the journey more than the end result. Happy endings are pretty much never guaranteed, so hopefully the road you travelled is fairly decent. I hope that you at least have some positive memories to hang onto.

I’m happy that I have a killer gut instinct. They say to follow your gut on things and they’re right. No matter what someone might try and sell you, in the end you know what’s really going on.

I’m truly thankful for my job. I’m lucky enough to work with people I see as family. I’ve known a lot of these guys more than half my life! I’m grateful for the chance to use this position to help people in need. That’s a pretty awesome feeling.

I’m thankful for my godson and nephew, Jake. He has become the high point in my life. Going from having a family and three kids to having no home, no furniture or belongings of substance, and no kids (when you had 3) sucks. I have to admit that I didn’t see much point in my life when all of it happened. It’s a sad place to be when you don’t want to continue because you put all of your value in the lives of everyone else. Not healthy. It’s a great thing to see life through the eyes of a child. Everything is so simple and pure. The love that you feel is genuine and honest. That’s the best. Laughter isn’t forced. You clearly know how they feel about you. No B.S. I guess maybe some things happen for a reason and the timing of Sam and Orlando moving back was perfect. It’s not OK to need other people in order to feel like you’re worth the air you breathe, but that’s where I was. I’m so glad that I’m able to share my love with Jake and that I can actually SEE that my sister and her husband are doing OK.

I’m also grateful for closure. I don’t have a good relationship with most of my family for reasons I won’t talk about here. However, I did get closure with my Aunt Sherry before she passed away right before Christmas. I went and sat with her in her hospital room for hours the week before she passed away. The last time I saw her, I told her that I loved her, patted her on the foot, and she said she loved me, too. I left and didn’t see her again until after she was gone. I honestly felt OK about that. The doctors told everyone that she wasn’t well and to come and say goodbye, but I didn’t feel the need to do that. I didn’t want to hover over her hospital bed with her knowing why everyone was there. I was good with the way I left things when I was there with her alone. When she could talk to me and tell me stories and share her feelings. I couldn’t really do much for her, but I was there when she was coherent and could feel my interest. I’m really glad for that.

I hope that 2017 is off to a wonderful start for everyone. I’m seriously glad that 2016 is done and gone and we never have to go back to it.

Thank you all for the unconditional love and support over the years. I feel it and I appreciate it. And I love you guys back.

Shanon

No more living a lie

I feel like I’ve been living a lie for a little over a month now, but I did it for my own sanity. I also did it in hopes that my current reality would change, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.

After a long time and having built a family of people I love so much, my relationship has come to an end.

Break ups can be emotionally filled and, on my end, this one has been. I feel like I have failed so many people that I care about and there’s nothing I can do to change any of it. I know what I would do differently in the future, but that doesn’t change anything from the past.

There’s no right way to have a break up when there are kids involved, so we did it the best we knew how. I hope that it was easier for them than it has been me.

Being my age and living in your parents spare bedroom is a tough pill to swallow. But we do what we have to in hopes that it turns out for the best, right?

There could be fingers pointed and stuff said, but it’s not worth the hurt. Why would I intentionally damage the people who have been my world for almost three years? I take plenty of the blame myself. Hindsight really is 20/20, but looking in reverse doesn’t do much when you’re trying to move forward.

I am still crazy about the people I have loved so much and I am truly grateful to have had what I did. It taught me love that I didn’t know I was capable of. It has also dealt a loss that I cannot begin to describe.

So, if you see me around and my face is pink and puffy, chances are you caught me right after a meltdown. We do the best we can, but sometimes it seems like we fall short, right? I know that I’m dreading anyone asking where my GF is at the company Christmas party on Saturday. I’ve tried my hardest to keep things to myself in an effort to preserve hope. Hope that maybe time and distance would allow some healing to happen. Hope that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I guess that one’s not always true.

Now I write this in the interest of self-preservation. For everyone who has heard stories about my kids and my family and would usually ask how everyone is doing, please don’t. Please don’t say any unkind words about anyone involved, either, because I care very deeply for them and no unkind words are needed. Sometimes the best journeys take unexpected turns and it’s hard to get back on course. Sometimes you get lost and you don’t find your way back. It sucks, but that’s just how it goes.

I don’t know how long this feeling is going to last. I do know that it’s gotten harder and harder as the time has passed. Losing the four people you saw every single day and kissed, hugged, and covered up every night is painful beyond words. My hope at this point is that the kids all know how much I love them and that know that my failures as a grown up don’t reflect them at all. IT doesn’t change the fact that I love them dearly. They deserve the world and if I couldn’t be a part of their completed puzzle, I hope that it all comes together soon.

So, now what? I honestly have no idea. Thank goodness my mom and dad have a twin-sized bed in the spare room. And thank goodness my nephew moved out the week before I moved in. I keep hoping that I will wake up to see that this was just a bad dream, but I guess I must be in a sleep coma.

That’s really all I’m willing to say about that. Now I need to go and wash my face again.

I hope you're not sick of my music talk

Daya- “Talk”

“They’re all gonna say what they wanna say, anyway…so might as well give ‘em something to talk about.”

https://youtu.be/6FeJVuyie1U

I posted about this song over the weekend because I had it on repeat in my car. This whole album is full of songs that are worth putting on repeat and exhausting. Daya is one of those people who is easily one of my favorites, but if you were to ask me my faves, I would manage to totally blank and leave her off the list. I don’t remember what she looks like, but I see a less rebellious Halsey in my head. I know I could Google image the name, but I don’t care to. Do yourself a favor and BUY THIS ALBUM. No I’m not getting paid or free stuff for saying this. I just love the album that much.

Charlie Puth- “Does It Feel”

https://youtu.be/1Fgzc8nyWr4

Another artist who can do no wrong. Everything he does is something I love. It makes me wonder, though…how much heartache has this guy gone through? And how does he take a broken heart and turn it into this? You want to feel awful for him, but your head just bobs up and down instead. It’s almost confusing.

Zara Larsson- “I Would Like”

https://youtu.be/wi0IzqkfBwk

I love Zara Larsson. I sent an artist request for her before her song “Never Forget You” made it big on the radio. I didn’t get a response, but I tried. She’s got another song called “Ain’t My Fault” that’s pretty great, too.

The Chainsmokers ft. XYLO- “Setting Fires”

https://youtu.be/v6IAJOOmDMg

The Chainsmokers must be the biggest group of the year. Think about being an upcoming artist and being asked to be on one of their songs! It makes me wonder about their live show, though. It would be pure awesome if all of their guest singers were there with them. I don’t like a lot of electronic music, but come on. The Chainsmokers are above and beyond anyone else in the business.

Bruno Mars- “Versace On The Floor”

https://youtu.be/d2UZlwTDGbY

Maybe I’m crazy, but I think I hear a little bit of “It Will Rain” in this song. I was hoping for a new “Gorilla” type song, but it’s not. Still great, though. I’m pumped about Bruno Mars going on tour next year. Can you even imagine how an arena show for his headlining tour would be? He puts on a show!

Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, and another person- “Hair Up”

https://youtu.be/fM4GVy120xM

How in the world does a song about Troll hair sound cool like this? I don’t get it. Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani together is like the ultimate in coolness. I actually want to see this movie and I never had a Troll doll or liked Trolls. I just love Anna Kendrick and J.T.

Drake White- “Livin’ The Dream”

This song is one you hear on country radio all the time and I’ll admit this. I turn it up every time I hear it still and I’ve probably heard it about 100 times. I bought the song on iTunes, so that’s usually where I hear it. I don’t want to have a space on the wall for last year’s deer, but the general idea is one that I love.

https://youtu.be/f9li3iW25vU

Another political rant, but this one is special because it's MINE

WOW. I fell asleep last night before they announced the winner of the election. I woke up and saw it first thing, though. I. AM. SHOCKED.

I voted for Hillary. It was a no brainer in my mind. I know she had her issues, however, she was the best choice for me. I voted Republican for several local offices. I cannot understand how anyone could feel good about a vote for Donald Trump. He is a man who has been able to buy his way out of any troubles he’s ever had. I can’t even afford to make two car payments in a month. How will Donald Trump ever truly relate to the common man? He hasn’t lived the life of a normal person. This isn’t an episode of Undercover Boss. This is the reality we have made for ourselves.

Let’s hope that he looks at his wife and sees that she emigrated to the U.S. from Slovenia before he decides to come down too hard on other immigrants. I know that being here illegally is wrong, but here’s something else I know. I drove by a day labor pickup spot yesterday and it had men standing and waiting for their chance to work. To earn money and support themselves. That’s more than I can say for a lot of citizens who sit back and live off of their check from the government. I understand and support those who truly need and deserve assistance. I’m talking about the people who feel no responsibility to step up and take care of themselves.

My mind is going a million miles an hour. It’s hard to get it all down.

How can anyone with a son watch this man and feel like he’s the right choice? Wouldn’t you want to just slap your son in the mouth if he made some of the comments that Trump has made? If your son was accused of taking advantage of his power and thinking he’s God’s gift to women, would you support him? I sure wouldn’t. I would love him, but I wouldn’t be OK with it. I’m certainly not OK with the most powerful leader in the free world being that way.

They have been LOOKING HARD for any excuse to indict Hillary. You better believe that if she had done something…anything…big enough to justify it, they would’ve brought her down. They didn’t though. FOX News even had to apologize for reporting that she was in trouble for more scandal when she wasn’t. Irresponsible and sickening.

I am offended at the highest level by any comment of Hillary being “just as bad” as Trump. Donald Trump allegedly violated people while he looked them in the eyes. He criticized people who made lots of money for him. He has few human morals. I wish I could say that no one gets insanely rich by valuing the people who helped them get there, but then I see people like Mark Cuban who make me think otherwise.

I didn’t vote for Hillary because she’s a woman. I voted for her because she holds many of the same values I do. I said MANY…not all. You don’t treat people like they are lesser than you. How can anyone go on the web and see montage after montage of Trump’s lies and smug looks and lack of a case and be OK with him? He is like a third grade boy. When something anti-Trump would arise in a debate or whatever, I was pretty much waiting for “I know you are, but what am I?” as a response.

If he can cheat on his wives, he can cheat on anything else. And he can hide behind his money when he does it. Money that he has made…I promise you this…by employing immigrant workers. The same people he will condemn once he takes office.

I can’t even think about what this means for equal marriage rights. I don’t understand how anyone could be against two people who love each other wanting the same rights as everybody else. There’s nothing wrong with me as a person. I am capable of just as much as any heterosexual person I know. I am capable and even more worthy of a marriage than most heterosexual people I know. It’s a shame that I might never get to exercise that right.

After this, would anyone be surprised if Snooki and J-Woww won the next election? I would honestly feel better about them being our elected leaders than I do Trump. At least they didn’t get off on telling people that they’re fired.

I have looked through Facebook and a lot of people are worried about how to explain this terror to their kids. I saw this link to a Huffington Post article addressing that. You should look at the entire site, though, to get a feel for things. I am horrified.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

On the up side, the Trump win does give us the power to unite. We as a country can band together and keep it together. We have to have confidence in our other elected officials to keep this man in check. Instead of not liking each other because of who we voted for, we can see each other as people who have rights. Rights than generations before us fought hard to ensure for us. Let’s not allow this one bigot to come in and deny anything.

Let’s not act like this is the apocalypse because it’s not. Teach your kids the same things you taught them yesterday. Teach them to value people as people regardless of what you see on the outside. This man cannot take the gays and put us all on a farm in the middle of Nevada. He can’t just decide to get rid of NAFTA. He can teach hate, though, if we allow it. SO DON’T.

I voted, though, so I feel like I have a right to be bothered by these results. If you didn’t find the time to exercise your right to vote yesterday or in early voting, you really have no room to say a word. Inaction is just as powerful as action at times. Your vote counted and if you didn’t recognize that power, you shouldn’t say a word.

Halloween! My heart is pounding and here's why. MUSIC!

More music you should know! I might as well serve some purpose in this world, so I’ve decided that it’s to keep you posted on the music I love. I’m stealing a lot of this from that soundtrack I posted about earlier. There’s some other stuff, too, though.

Melanie Martinez- Soap

She’s a little different, but for a lot of non-judgmental people out there, there’s nothing wrong with that. For those of you who do have a problem with people who might think a little differently, I guess you can suck it.

https://youtu.be/eFU_wJes-xE

Halsey- Gasoline

There is a bad word or two in this one. My nephew sent me the link to this song yesterday and I LOVE it. I like most of Halsey’s stuff, but this is one of my new favorites. Listen to this line. “I think there’s a flaw in my code.” Who doesn’t feel like that at some point or another? Listen to this one loud in the car while you’re alone.

https://youtu.be/zRHNi3QfFlE

Basenji- Can’t Get Enough

I feel like I shouldn’t like this for some reason, but whatever. I do. I don’t know how to explain this song. It’s just cool and light and…not moist. But I wanted to say moist for some reason. There aren’t a lot of lyrics to this song, but you can hum along to it.

https://youtu.be/kkeqmEJc3Co

JoJo- No Apologies

YES! The same JoJo that did that “Leave” song way back when is all grown up. And she’s better this time around. Seriously.

Here’s a live link- She sounds so fantastically great

https://youtu.be/zcwzOdlu4kw

Here’s the studio version

https://youtu.be/WN_r1Av7o-I

JoJo- F.A.B.

This one has bad words in it, too. This song title is short for Fake A** B**ch. Who doesn’t know one of those, right? This is what you might send in an email to someone who just sucks at life. “When they eatin’ off your plate but don’t do dishes.” How brilliant is that line?

https://youtu.be/AbhYHtcw45Q

Mike Perry- The Ocean

On the total opposite end of the spectrum is this song. It’s a dance-ish song with sweet lyrics. All about touching someone under their skin and taking someone to a place they’ve never been. Yea love, right?

https://youtu.be/5JxgDJvqGmM

Andy Grammer- Fresh Eyes

And another sweet one that maybe I don’t get. I thought it was about seeing the person you’ve loved for a while in a whole new light. But then the music video is making over homeless people. It’s cool that Andy did that for the video, but it makes me question whether or not I understand what he’s singing about. Hmmm.

https://youtu.be/5bgemCaaQkU

Kiiara- Feels

This one has the bad language in it, too. I LOVE Kiiara. This one is different than “Gold” and hooking up with your brother in the basement since you weren’t around. This one is the sweeter side of her. Seriously. If you haven’t done it already, go to her Vevo channel and listen to her songs. So great! OK now that I mention the basement, she does mention it again in this song. But it’s not about anything even semi-incestuous.

https://youtu.be/g-6axdmy-3k

Rihanna- Close to You

We all know how amazing Rihanna is, but sometimes her talent gets a little lost in her message. This song is Rihanna stripped down with just a piano and a couple of other sounds. The vulnerable side of Rihanna is one we can all appreciate, right?

https://youtu.be/KvUF-y2ijZc

Peter Gabriel- In your Eyes

This is a throwback song. It’s the song that I have called the best song ever for years now. I still believe it. This song fits any mood you could be in. Except maybe unless you get in a mood to go dance with glow sticks and take your shirt off. Then this one doesn’t fit. Please. Just listen to it all the way through.

https://youtu.be/kU8OJAOMbPg

Music I love and want to share

I’ve realized that I can’t put a dozen links to YouTube in a Facebook post, so I’m gonna tell you about my favorite songs right now here in this post.

Have you ever noticed that pop music sort-of goes in cycles? It has either a bunch of rock-ish songs that are big at the time or it leans more rhythmic. I prefer the rhythmic spurts, but bands like Twenty One Pilots make me appreciate the rock ones, too.

Anyway, there are some great full on pop songs out right now and I feel that it’s my duty (yes. I said duty) to make sure you know about them. You can thank me in your head the next time you’ve got your iPhone playing these songs while you clean the house or workout or whatever.

I won’t bore you with info about the band or singer…let’s get to the music.

Hailee Steinfeld ft. Zedd- Starving

https://youtu.be/xwjwCFZpdns

“Don’t need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo…” Who doesn’t want that? Who doesn’t picture that person who gives them the whole damn zoo while this song is on? I love it!

DNCE- Body Moves

https://youtu.be/NOBVEq_Bi5k

“What’s on your mind…cuz what’s on mine, a dirty mind, why so serious?”

Joe Jonas is all grown up! And while I love Nick Jonas as a solo act, I love Joe Jonas in this band. Try not to bob your head when you hear the bassline on this song.

Speaking of Nick Jonas-

Nick Jonas- Bacon

https://youtu.be/CPUB97ilIqE

I don’t really like bacon, but I love the idea of this song. They add bacon to everything that’s great and then it’s even greater! There is a clean version of this song and the dirty one. I prefer the dirty one, which is what I’m posting.

Nick Jonas- VooDoo

Why not throw in the new song from Nick Jonas? This whole album is great!

https://youtu.be/C1CjEKtlfS8

Tegan and Sara- Stop Desire

https://youtu.be/WLUDxVezNes

I’m not crazy about the music videos they’re doing for this new album, but I do love this song. It’s kind of got an 80’s sound to it. I can’t handle a lot of the sound anymore, but I love the way they integrate it into their sound.

Machine Gun Kelly ft. Camila Cabello- Bad Things

https://youtu.be/4cauU2IpFyA

This one samples an old song by Fastball and makes it cool again. I’m not crazy about the MGK part of this song yet, but overall, I love the song.

Miguel ft. Kasey Musgraves- Waves

https://youtu.be/XtS3SyevpvI

Kasey mentioned working with Miguel when she came in our studio, but I didn’t hear this song until last week. Maybe I’m slow. I dunno. It’s Miguel’s song “Waves” with Kasey Musgraves in it. I LOVE Miguel. Seriously. I had to listen to this song a few times before I liked it, but I officially like it now. It’s a grower.

Jon Bellion- All Time Low (acoustic)

https://youtu.be/LZkDZFwzcSk

I posted this somewhere last week, but I’m posting it again. This is just talent.

Justin Bieber ft. Halsey- The Feeling

https://youtu.be/qYj4l5Xntt0

This song just sounds cool to me. It’s almost a year old, but I’ve not heard it on the radio or anything, so maybe you haven’t either. So I thought I would share. I don’t know who these people in the video are, but good for them.

Josh Abbott Band- Amnesia

https://youtu.be/sJ6wpG6eKYE

JAB is one of my all time favorite bands. I have an autographed guitar from Josh that was given to me after a kid met him as part of Make a Wish. For whatever reason, the kid remembered me talking about JAB when we met before and was kind enough to get this guitar for me. I love it and this song. In fact, the album is pretty great as a whole.

That’s all I’ve got for now. This is a pretty good start for a playlist, in my opinion. I hope you don’t hate my choices. If you do, at least be kind in the way you tell me, please.

Have a great day!

Shanon