Remember This Thursday

With today being Thursday, it's obvious that my goal of posting every Wednesday hasn't exactly gone to plan. So here is "Remember This? Thursday." Enjoy!

I’ve come to realize that I didn’t have a typical music education growing up - thanks to my dad. There was always some kind of music on in the house. But not just the typical Top 40 hits everyone knows. There were bonus tracks, B-sides, and of course – silly songs. Over the years I would listen to these songs with friends thinking they, too, knew the words to Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. But alas, I often got blank stares. What was wrong with these kids? Everyone knows the song "Does Your Chewing Gun Lose Its Flavor (on the bedpost overnight)"- right?

So when this song popped in my head the other day...

...I asked my husband to help me remember which song it was. I only had the “Why is everybody always picking on me” part stuck in my head, so I tried to describe it to him.  When he still had no idea, we did the only thing you can do in a situation like this – Googled it. The first few notes took me right back to my childhood. And the words came flowing back from some recess of my memory. Charlie Brown! That’s it! I was pumped. My husband…not so much. I got the same blank stare as so many times before. But I didn’t care. I just relished the fact that I had a great teacher to expose me to such musical masterpieces – thanks dad!

Oh, and once I heard this song, it also brought to mind the “Yakkity, yak. Don’t talk back” song. So for your listening pleasure, here’s that one too:

Way Back Wednesday

I have a lot of random thoughts throughout the day. Maybe I have an overactive imagination, or just need a heavier work load. Recently I kept having random things from my childhood pop up in my head that would make me say, "hey, remember _____." 

In an effort to make myself blog more regularly, and put these thoughts to use, I've decided to start a series called "Way Back Wednesday" (or "Remember This" Thursday, in case I miss my deadline). Now you can all share in the randomness and reminiscing.

Installment #1: The Never Ending Story

This movie fascinated me as a child. I don't think I ever really understood what the story was about. But I do remember the flying dog thing with the weird bubbles on his back. 

And the horse that got stuck in the mud. 

And the rock eater.

And "Bastian...pleeeeease!"

 For some reason the gold thing on the front of the book stayed with me too. 

Maybe I'll find somewhere to rent it this weekend and see what it was actually all about. What are your favorite parts? 

Opening a can of questions

Skinny Pepsi Can Launch Is Heavy With Controversy
Diet Pepsi releases skinny can
Pepsi Press Release

Diet Pepsi recently announced a new product innovation - The Skinny Can. This product launch intrigued me for many reasons. On one hand, the can clearly communicates Diet Pepsi's brand positioning. It also gives it a new, chic persona which helps create a differentiation point between rival Coke. Given this positioning, a launch during fashion week was smart, and provided a vast pool of target consumers.

However, on the other hand, it seems like the marketing managers had to expect some kind of controversy. I don't think it helped either, the way they presented it. I can understand how some people could be upset that something described as "chic,""attractive," and a "celebration of women," is slapped with a "skinny" label.

Plus, nothing about the actual product changed; the serving size is even the same. So, deciding between the skinny can and the regular can is decision made solely on looks. Which makes this an interesting commentary on our society - that it's not about just about what you drink, it's how you look while you're doing it.

First thing's first

Look what I did, I started a blog! I've been wanting to do this for a while, but just wasn't sure if I had enough to say.

You know how there are those things in life that let you know you've become an adult? Like listening to talk radio, drinking coffee, reading other parts of the paper besides the funnies, and actually caring about what's in the news? Well, I'm there. So I'm thinking of using this outlet to link to stories/articles I find intriguing, and maybe get some people thinking.

So with that I'll leave you with my first, very serious, posting, that also ties in to the name of this blog (which, by the way, is subject to change. I wasn't quite prepared when I started creating my account, and had to think on the fly). It's a video from everyone's favorite animated 80's girl band - Jem and the Holograms. My favorite, of course, was Kimber. Mainly because she almost had my name, but also because she had awesome red hair and played the key-tar. Truly outrageous.