The Blog Less Traveled

I was going through my music collection on iTunes the other day and thought I’d take a look at the songs that I played the most or ranked the highest. Below, in alphabetical order, are 40 or so songs that made the first cut. I’m sure if I took more time or dug more deeply into my 9000 or so songs, I’d probably add or replace a few of these. I tried to strike a balance among several genres. They run the gamut from Instrumental (Yanni and Enya) to Easy Listening (Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens) to Rock (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Metallica). About the only thing you won’t find is Country. I do have a few Country songs that I like, but none are at the top of my playlists.

• All Along The Watch Tower – Jimi Hendrix
• Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty
• Born In Time – Eric Clapton
• Boulevard Of Broken Dreams – Green Day
• The Boxer – Simon & Garfunkel
• Broken Wings – Mr. Mister
• Diamonds & Rust – Joni Mitchell
• Drive – The Cars
• Dust in the Wind – Kansas
• Far Away – Nickelback
• Fire and Rain – James Taylor
• Fred Baer – Ted Nugent
• Good Heart – Jefferson Starship
• Hey Jude – The Beatles
• Hotel California – The Eagles
• The House Of The Rising Sun – The Animals
• I Just Want You – Ozzie Osbourne
• I’ll Remember – Madonna
• I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home – Grand Funk Railroad
• I Ran – Flock of Seagulls
• Layla – Derek and the Dominos
• Learn To Fly – Foo Fighters
• The Logical Song – Supertramp
• Nights In White Satin – The Moody Blues
• Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
• Old Man – Neil Young
• Only Wanna Be With You – Hootie & The Blowfish
• Owner Of a Lonely Heart – Yes
• Peace Train – Cat Stevens
• Pinball Wizard – The Who
• River Flows In You – Yiruma
• Mr Roboto – Styx
• Runnin’ Down A Dream – Tom Petty
• Sky Pilot – Erick Burdon
• Slide – The Goo Goo Dolls
• So Far Away – Staind
• Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
• Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits
• Time Has Come Today – The Chambers Brothers
• To The One Who Knows – Yanni
• Watermark – Enya
• White Wedding – Billy Idol
• Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin
• White Room – The Cream
• You Wreck Me – Tom Petty

An Obituary printed in the London Times

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn’t always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live, as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

If you know me at all, you know I’m a chocolate addict. If it’s chocolate by itself or it has chocolate in it, on it or around it, I’ll eat it. I’m particularly fond of good dark chocolate. Give me some dark chocolate with a 60% to 80% cocoa content, and I’m your friend for life.

In a previous blog entry, I told you about how good Brookside Dark Chocolate Pomegranates were. My latest chocolate fix is courtesy of Pearson’s Mint Patties. These babies are good. The cocoa content for the dark chocolate portion of the candy mint is 66%. The peppermint portion of the candy is good, too. Once I open one up, I don’t think I eat less than 10-12 a day. It’s a good thing I buy them in the 5 lb. jar or it would be a real expensive addiction. I think I may have to attend a Chocoholic’s Anonymous meeting pretty soon – “Hi, my name is Ralph and I’m a Chocoholic.”

If you want to try them, they’re available at Costco, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, etc. Or, if you drop by my house, I might even share a few with you! There’s even a website for them here. Definitely worth a try. Plus, dark chocolate is actually good for you – in moderation, that is!