She’s right, I do want that bumper sticker
Apparently my kid knows me well enough to anticipate some of my behavior.
The other day I had to ask Katie, my 9-year-old, what that Jonas Brothers song with the slammin’ beat is called.
It’s “Keep it Real.” I did try to search for it before she woke up and produced bupkis. I don’t listen to the lyrics of a song. Either I like it or I don’t. I’m not into social commentary I’m into a good beat — a mood if you will.
If I did pay attention to song lyrics I would have realized the hook is “Keep it Real.” They sing it quite a bit in this song. But I don’t listen because my brain is too busy finding side notes in everyday life. I don’t have time to listen to lyrics, jack.
Anyway, I told her I really like that song and I’m thinking about buying the mp3 so I can listen to it while I work out.
That is when she said, “If you do buy it can you please, please not listen to it on the computer over and over again all day long? I still like that song, too.”
It is true that I play a song I like repeatedly while I’m at the computer. Yes, I’m actually listening to “Keep it Real” on repeat at Grooveshark right now. It’s a good song and everyone else is asleep.
I’m also listening to “Jerk It Out” by the Caesars. Those two songs are on repeat on my two-song playlist right now.
And before you ask, I have no idea what the song “Jerk It Out” is about either, I just know the hook. It’s probably something sexual but I like it and the fact remains that it is a good workout song.
Regardless I thought maybe it was a fluke — her noting my obsessive love of the repeat function — so I noted it and moved on. I’ve also attempted to modify my behaviour* around her.
But it wasn’t a fluke because she accurately called me out the other day without realizing it.
I was asking her what Student of the Month is all about at school. I asked her in a sneaky way because she IS Student of the Month and she will find out today at the school assembly~!~
The school secretary called me last week to share the news while swearing me to secrecy and I will be in the gym watching her at 12:40 today, jack.
But back to our conversation. I was asking her what happens when a kid is chosen Student of the Month. She said that person gets to go in front of the assembly to receive accolades and a school bumper sticker.
I said, “Huh, that’s interesting.”
And she said, “You know you want a bumper sticker.”
It’s true. I do want a school bumper sticker.
In fact I proposed the idea to the principal last year and he said they would start working on it, but I haven’t seen jackola yet.
So I told her, “I guess that means you need to start working on becoming Student of the Month so I can get my bumper sticker, eh?”
And she rolled her eyes.
But that doesn’t matter because tomorrow, while she is at school, I will be tooling around town proudly displaying my bumper sticker on the Mystery Mobile while the Jonas Brothers are keeping it real via the speakers.
Boo. Yah.
*Did you see what I did there? I got my Canuckian/Brit on and used a U in the word behavior. I love that Euro feel even though spell check is adamant that it’s wrong. Kick rocks spell check.
p.s. Don’t forget to play Spot the Low Top in the VIP Lounge. Look for the line, “I got the low top” somewhere in the comments. When you find that phrase, you will discover who’s It today.
And then we will have fun and experience much joy.
Tags: Things that make me obsess
Sorry CG, but I have to sympathise with Katie on the short playlist thing. My dad has a tendency to overplay to death any new song he finds and likes. He’s killed my enjoyment of several that way. And that’s even worse than overplaying ones I don’t like. I will never again listen willingly to “What it is” by Mark Knopfler, “Human” by the Killers and “Sacrifice” by Elton John. Not that I was planning to anyway. Have a good workout and enjoy the bumper sticker!
Oh and I thoroughly approve of the additional ‘u’.
I have no idea how old your father is Si but I love the fact that he has a grown child but continues to listen to songs over and over and over again.
And then some more.
I do love that extra U.
Hola CG!
I listen on repeat for hours too! If I like it, I want to hear it.
My congrats to Katie! So what does the bumper sticker say?
Mucho Smooches!
Val
Hey Val! Damn straight. I want to hear it on my terms.
Thanks for the congrats; it’s just the name of the school but I’ve been jonesin’ for one for a good long while. I will be pissed off if it’s a traditional sticky bumper sticker rather a magnetic one.
I don’t glue nothin’ on the back of the Mystery Mobile.
p.s. The dancing heart is almost dancing to the beat of “Keep it Real.”
The ones at my kid’s school are the sticky kind, and I don’t stick anything on the back of my truck either, but I solved that problem by taping it inside the back window. Still proudly displayed for all to see, but not glued to the bumper. (This might not work if you have a tinted back window though.)
Excellent idea! And one I will have to use since it is, indeed, a sticky one. Grr.
So, they don’t give the child anything? That’s a bit of a let down, not to mention mean. :D
I did just find out from the secretary this morning that the student is actually chosen on merit by her teacher. I thought it was something that every kid got — as in they rotate through the students.
Cool, she actually earned it.
She’ll get a pin, a bumper sticker (yay-yeah!) and a certificate that states the reason why she was chosen. I’ll give ya an update after the festivities :)
LOVE “Jerk it Out.” Another good one by the Caesars is “It’s Not the Fall That Hurts.”
Now I will go check out that Jonas Bros. song on lala.com.
And! Congrats to your daughter, and to YOU, proud mom! Enjoy that bumper sticker.
(And who is this “jack” you keep referring to?)
Got “It’s Not the Fall That Hurts” going right now. Thank you Grooveshark, but major thanks and kudos go to you JD. I dub thee slammin’.
I’m going to have to let Katie know about all of the fun we’re having in here today. Although I need to quick look to see if I swore in today’s post.
You, baby. You are jack. And so is everyone else reading here. I’ve had the feeling that I rely too heavily on the word baby to mean other people in general so I’ve been infusing jack into the mix. I also like gingah and I use it sparingly because it is my favorite.
And unlike my obsessive repeat of music, I show much reverence for words. Especially the ones I enjoy the most, gingah.
I agree with Solomon that it is a shame that Katie won’t get something more appealing for a child. At ES’s middle school, when they earn SOM, they receive a certificate for a free Applebee’s dessert and a free movie rental from a local video store (although, we just attempted to use that this past weekend and discovered the place is gone – video stores are dying these days).
Still, the honor is something significant in itself. I’m always ragging on my boys when they open a card from Grandma and discover only written sentiments of love (instead of a check).
Way to go, Katie! Hope she enjoys all the accolades and looks of pride that we are casting in her direction, here in the VIP lounge (maybe you could allow her in the lounge just for the day – if we all promise to watch our tongues).
I must also thank you for your comment in my lounge (o.k., closet, where nobody seems to want to hang out with drinks and bright chatter). Hubby never reads my blog. But he did the day I complained about being woken to take the dog out in the morning.
This led to a big discussion. He gets ready for work in the bathroom near Harley’s crate. Thus, when he is dressed and ready for work, the dog begins to whine to go out. He didn’t want to get his work clothes dirty (should the dog jump up on him). Thankfully, he agreed that he could easily take the dog out before he is dressed in his work clothes. So now, I am able to sleep until 7:30 again.
She’s going to receive a pin and I have to admit I’m curious to see what this pin looks like. I’d be down for a gift certificate somewhere, in fact now that I think about it they got gift certificates at Pizza Hut for reading a certain number of books each month.
She earned three last year. Yeah, that’s right.
I love your closet, it’s an exclusive club. This is so fun that I was able to influence your husband. Enjoy the extra shut eye, you deserve it!
I remember being student of the month. My school called it something else, but anyway. I totally remember what I was wearing and it was presented at the PTO meeting and I got my picture taken with the principle. I think I just got a certificate though, but my mom was actually there so that was super cool. I hope it’s super cool bumper sticker.
My husband and I burn CD’s that we listen to over and over and over. Several of the CD’s have repeats from other CD’s. It’s not fun to ride in the car with us. Because we know the words, and we sing them loudly.
Man they never had Student of the month at my school. Unless it was a super elite club that didn’t exist unless you were inducted and I was not inducted. Bastards. If that’s what happened.
If not, then I revoke the bastard slam.
That’s so cool that it was that much fun for you that you remember what you were wearing!
Mr. C would never, ever tolerate repeat songs in the car. Not even if it was just me and him. In fact he has said to me, “You sure know how to run a song into the ground, don’t you?”
Well, it was cool but I have a weird talent of remembering exactly what I was wearing down to my undies in most situations. I have always put that much thought into my ensemble if a camera is involved.
Boo on Mr. C. No fun.
I think part of our friendship withstanding the test of time is we enjoy being in the car together, even after many hours. If there was a secret camera in there after 6 hours in the car, I would be mortified. Immaturity doesn’t even scratch the surface of our behavior.
I cannot listen to the same song on repeat. I have done it on occasion, most notably to Chumbawumba’s “Tubthumping,” but that was my freshman year’s roommate’s idea, not mine. We have our XM programmed with some of our favorite songs, and when one of them comes on, the receiver will beep and let us know what channel the song is on. It’s gotten to the point where if “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon comes on, I ignore it. Totally overplayed, plus I have the CD. I used to, before there was such a thing as an mp3 player, listen to the same CD over and over during my four-hour shift at my job in the college library. That was because I didn’t want to change CDs while my hands were full of glue. I got to know the lyrics to Dixie Chick’s Fly album REALLY well.
Congrats to Katie! I got the “Apple of Our Eye” award in first or second grade, but all the kids in my class got it at some point in the school year. Let us know what Katie’s reaction was!
PS — Whilst in SD, I was able to wear Poolie’s clown shoes, which are made by Converse!! (They’re probably the only Converse that will be wide enough for my feet, sadly enough.) Photos up at my Flickr site. You know you are jealous!
I was going to say I don’t recognize that song Tubthumping, but I listened to it on YouTube and as soon as I heard, “I got no time…” I recognized it immediately.
That’s cool that you can the XM will tell you when your fave is playing. But I could see how it might get old.
I did see those shoes and they are bitchin’! I thought those were Converse the first time I saw a picture of them. I swear she wrote a post where she wore those with cleats to aerate her lawn.
Didn’t she?
Oh, I’m so the opposite! I might like a song forever, then hear a phrase that ruins it for me. Bleeeeehhhhh.
Unless it is a song that gets my knees pumping on the street or on the elliptical. Then it doesn’t really matter. I still don’t know any of the words to anything Lady Gaga sings and I’m totally embarrassed to admit it, but I always turn up the volume when she comes on the radio. And I mumble along and drum on the gear shift & humiliate my kids. Or will, once they get old enough to know how uncool I am.
Yay for Katie! What a fun day it will be for her.
I was thinking about that, Dom. I almost wrote I could find out the song was about mass genocide and I would still like it.
I haven’t heard anything from Lady Gaga, though I have heard her name. It’s good, eh?
Look for Poker Face. That’s my favorite so far.
I realize I never change the station when that song comes on and I like classic rock and country.
Humiliating your kids is like half the fun, right?
I put songs on repeat all the time and try to figure out juggling routines with my fire sticks. It’s a hidden passion that most people would never guess I have. But now you know.
Yes! The nuggets revealed in the Lounge are the absolute best. Now do the Javelinas know about this passion? Because if they don’t, I will feel as if I was there in spirit and we had a quiet side bar.
Student of the Month? Awesome! Pretty soon you’ll be getting one of those “My kid is an Honor Student” bumper stickers. I’m sure of it. :)
Reminds me of this Fantasy novel I once read that I’d like to have a bumper sticker of. The main character was named Igot the Low-Top, kinda like Conan the Barbarian. Anyhow, it was pretty funny.
Make sure to start a slow-motion clap for your daughter. That would be awesome.
Oy, while I had to laugh, I really hope I never go that far with the kid thing. I do not want the honor student bumper sticker.
Major snaps, sw. And I might actually have to do the slow clap, crescendo to a one-woman standing O for her.
Awesome!
That was awesome, wasn’t it Michelle? Way to pass the baton.
Hahaha, slow-clap on the kid!
I like this Katie. Smart, perceptive. She’s going places!
I sometimes repeat songs but that’s a private thing. Except for one time about 17 years ago when I was temporarily living with some friends from college. They had a fancy CD player with a remote — which I kept hidden on my person and would repeat the same song, over and over again (”Shonen Knife” by Redd Kross, if you must know).
To this day, these friends say that any time they happen to hear this song, they must resist the urge to hit somebody. My work is done.
I did have to know and I now feel better for having the knowledge. (la la la la in LA…) That’s a wild Japan-meets-the-Beach-Boys-and-morphs-into-Gidget sorta sound.
I further enjoy the fact that you have conditioned your friends — like Pavlov who experimented on his unsuspecting canines. Viva la Red Kross!
Brava for Katie! I love your motivator: I strong-armed the principal, kid, now where’s mah damn sticker?!
And ooh, I see some other VIPs are Kings of Leon whores like myself. Personally, I find the ad nauseum repeat the beauty of the iPod. On the rare occasion at the gym where I use it for more than a library, I’ll cranks me some “Sex on Fire” OVER and OVER and OVER and think about how at the reception for the wedding I still haven’t set a date for, I’ll use it for one of my karaoke songs. Then I think, “Nope, can’t do that, cause the catty, judgmental, future sister-in-law’ll be all, ‘Slut!’ ”
Then I hit replay, crank it up and say, “Suck it, bitch, my sex is on FIRE!”
Tracy, I think we’re actually twins seprated at birth. Truly.
Ohhhh how I love that song! A blogger posted it right when it came out, with huge NOT SAFE FOR KIDS blazoned all over it, and I cannot stop playing it. Sure, my five-year-old jams along to it, but she doesn’t know what it’s saying. Not really…. Hey, I didn’t get one of the lines till my friend blasted it on our way to a football game and shouted it out. Ha. I’m sort of slow.
@Tracy I love the image of me strong-arming the principal. In my vision I grab his wrist, twist his arm behind his back and slam him against the metal lockers (but they don’t have lockers so I have improvise.)
“Where’s my bumper sticker, betch?!”
“What?”
“Say what again!”
I think you know the rest.
The sex she is on fire, eh?
@Soonerchick This awesome — twins separated by birth and reunited in the VIP Lounge!
@blue Grace rocks it like no one’s business.
I did NOT notice the Canuckian spelling until you pointed it out. I’m going to be kicked out of Canada, now. YAAAY!
(Can I sleep on your couch?)
Booyah! I mean, I’m sorry to hear that? Yeah, you can even have the futon shetbag. But it is in the basement. I hope that’s cobra kai.
Futon is cool – and I’m accustomed to basement living, being one of the People Under the Stairs already. See you once the court order is delivered and/or I score that passport.
Yay for Katie! *cheers, applause*
(takes a bow and acts like Katie’s accomplishment is her own)
Way to downplay being a mom! Once you get this bumper sticker, what will be your next goal?
Hmm. I think I have to go with world domination, LJ.
My daughter was Student of the Week last week. They do it weekly at her school in an effort to promote good behavior. (Being that it is a special school for kids with behavioral issues.) This morning she went to the Good Attendance Breakfast. Which is not a perfect attendance award. The award is given to students who achieve 80% attendance. Because of the type of school and the students involved, they can’t expect perfect attendance, but they do reward these kids for really trying to be there. A lot of the kids have real issues with attendance.
Hey, I take accolades (and take credit for them when I can) in any way, shape or form. Congrats — I hope she enjoyed the breakfast!
[...] here we are. You may recall my kid was named Student of the Month earlier in the school year and she did get a bumper sticker. I thought it was going to be a removable window cling and it wasn’t. I was disappointed and I [...]