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BS: Domestic Harmony?
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Subject: Domestic Harmony? From: Morticia Date: 18 Jun 00 - 02:38 PM Now my friends and family will be the first to tell you that I am not the most domesticated of women...I equate a tidy house with a sick mind,but, when I absolutely have to do something I really hate, like two hours of ironing this afternoon, I get through it by playing c.d's at top volume and singing until my lungs hurt. I noticed for the first time today ( none too quick, they'll tell you that too) that I have special ironing music,Bob Seeger, Jackson Browne,Prince and so on. Does anyone else have chores they hate and special music to survive them or am I really as strange as the world suspects? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Micca Date: 18 Jun 00 - 03:11 PM You are as strange as the world suspects......and I can say this with Authority.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: katlaughing Date: 18 Jun 00 - 03:41 PM Ah, now, no domestic harmony lost between you two, is there?**BSEG** Morticia...perhaps it takes a womon's sensibilities to understand...there, there, Micca, no worries, darlin'...go warm the iron up and we'll show you how!:-) Seriously, when I am really pissed (American) right now, I either put on a CD by Aqua which has the infamous "Barbie" on it; the whold cd is high energy and helps me to channel my anger into some mighty strokes of a dust cloth, etc. OR, I put on Mozart's "Reqiuem" at full volume...but sometimes that doesn't work because I stop, lost in its sublimity and then lose track of the mundane chores of life. When I was growing up, Saturday mornings were spent cleaning with my sisters who are twins, Betty was already away at college by the time I was old enough to get into it. Anyway, they ALWAYS played musicals to clean hosue by, mostly West Side Story, Oklahoma, Oliver, South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun, and The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Metchosin Date: 18 Jun 00 - 04:26 PM I'm joining you on this one Morticia, in fact my husband, many years ago bought me a bumper sticker, which I still have 'cause I don't like bumper stickers on my car, which reads "My Only Domestic Quality is that I Live in a House".
When my children were small, I used to suck the floors clean with my vacuum, to the strains of, dare I admit it, Bruce Springsteen, John Cougar Mellancamp, Pat Benetar and Steeleye Span, cranked up really loud so I could hear them clearly over my very loud vacuum cleaner.
He's still with me after almost thirty years, so I think he has given up on expecting anything different. Ironing?....You mean people actually iron stuff?...wierd....
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Llanfair Date: 18 Jun 00 - 04:48 PM "Life's too short to stuff a mushroom" There are always MUCH more interesting things to do than housework, But Steeleye Span and Catatonia certainly help things along. Radio 4 afternoon plays are good to iron to, or not iron, as the mood takes you!!!! Hwyl, Bron. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Irish sergeant Date: 18 Jun 00 - 05:11 PM Morticia: Guys do it too! I cheerfully admit to singing while I perform onorous and not-so-onorous tasks. At work I'll sing along with the radio if I like the station but If not whatever comes to mind. While scraping and painting the house, a task going into its second and hopefully last season, i sing mostly Irish songs but being in a rather warped frame of mind yesterday, I was singing "Isn't it Grand Boys" and They're Moving Father's Grave" (Just something about British Vaudville songs..) So it ranges from the rediculous to the sublime and from the 17th century to Natalie Merchant. Reguards, Neil |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Metchosin Date: 18 Jun 00 - 05:44 PM Ah Irish sergeant, then would you be singin' My Baby Has Fallin' Down Plug 'ole, while scrubbin' the loo? When my husband is concentrating on onerous tasks, he doesn't sing, he makes odd little engine noises....... could be he's lived too long with me. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Mbo Date: 18 Jun 00 - 05:58 PM Oh yeah, guys DO do it too! I've been doing dishes, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens since I was 13 years old. Kitchens are my specialty. When I was 16, my big thing was blasting opera, particulary my "My Favorite Puccini" and "Great Arias & Mighty Choruses" albums, as well as the "Orchestral Puccini" album. I also had a thing for blasting Rossini, too. Nothing like a little La Gazza Ladra or L'Italiana en Algieri to get ye moving! Now it's pretty much stuff like OASIS, Led Zeppelin, the Clancy Brothers, Joyful Noise (Green Linnet Compilation), and of COURSE Electric Light Orchestra! --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: MMario Date: 18 Jun 00 - 06:18 PM Closing crew at the restauraunt I used to work at always cleaned up to "Pink Caddilac", "Jack and Dianne","Born in the USA, "Snow Bird" and "Tennessee Waltz" Those were standard, and others were played at random. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Llanfair Date: 18 Jun 00 - 06:20 PM I can't believe this! Three times I've been married, and brought up two sons, and not one of them would clean a kitchen or bathroom, and as for cleaning a toilet........ Now, fellas, if it should happen that I'm in the market for No. 4??????? I know I'm a grandmother, well only just, but they do say that older women do great breakfasts!!!! Hwyl Bron. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: GUEST,Wesley S at Home Date: 18 Jun 00 - 06:39 PM I vote for bluegrass or fast celtic music if I'm doing chores { laundry or the dishes } or if I'm trying to get out of the house in the morning. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Jeri Date: 18 Jun 00 - 06:47 PM I'm single. What's housework? You mean that thing where you move stuff from geological strata to piles? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Morticia Date: 18 Jun 00 - 07:04 PM if you've got piles Jeri, I recommend Preparation Ouch! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Micca Date: 18 Jun 00 - 07:07 PM and what ever happened to Preparations A to G? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: GUEST,Rose Date: 18 Jun 00 - 08:39 PM There's something about doing housework to baroque music that clicks with me. Maybe its'the circle of fifths that inspires perpetual motion... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Sorcha Date: 18 Jun 00 - 09:06 PM Jeri, I thought it was more like getting grants to do digs. I have been using DeDannan and Odetta's energy to clean for years. I iron to whatever Fiona Ritchie chooses on Tuesday. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: JenEllen Date: 18 Jun 00 - 09:14 PM Housecleaning? In my place it's more like moving the animal hair from one location to another. I gave up trying years ago...But if I have to maintain, it's either Calypso or 80's stuff like Blondie. ~Elle |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Mrrzy Date: 18 Jun 00 - 09:16 PM I have a lot of great music, anyone want to come and clean my kitchen? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Mbo Date: 18 Jun 00 - 09:18 PM Do you have a toaster? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Sorcha Date: 18 Jun 00 - 10:34 PM Mbo, just remember, some cats pee in toasters. Ask 'spaw. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Hotspur Date: 18 Jun 00 - 10:59 PM If I HAVE to do housework (cooking doesn't count) I put on Elvis. There's something about "Jailhouse Rock" that makes scrubbing easier. Cooking, on the other hand, requires something less jump-up-and-dancy, so you don't knock over your pot of boiling water or something. However, it's easier to sing along. I like Frankie Armstrong and Aoife Clancy for that. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Metchosin Date: 18 Jun 00 - 11:51 PM My husband has just explained his "odd little engine noises" to me for the first time in thirty years.....guess you can never be with someone too long, not to learn something new about them.....he says his little model airplane noises allow his mind to soar while his body remains shackled.........hmmmmm...... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Sorcha Date: 18 Jun 00 - 11:55 PM That is difinitely a "hmmmm......."Metchosin. Wonder what is really happening in that brain. Sing some more real whale songs, and see what happens. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Metchosin Date: 18 Jun 00 - 11:55 PM ........and then he put Bruce Cockburn's "I'm Going to Fly Someday" on really loud....... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Mbo Date: 18 Jun 00 - 11:59 PM I find myself, when doing a really mundane or repetitive task, that I make weird little noises myself...it's some subconscious thing that I don't realize I'm doing. --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Metchosin Date: 19 Jun 00 - 12:23 AM oh dear.....now I am worried...... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Terry K Date: 19 Jun 00 - 12:30 AM I would love a clean house but my wife is just like you guys all sound ('cept for Mbo!) - then again, my cleaning lady seems not to like cleaning much either, she's more like a "tidying-up-lady". |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Whistle Stop Date: 19 Jun 00 - 08:33 AM Interesting question. It really depends on what kinds of chores I'm doing. If it's something that requires no brain power at all, and I can stay in one room while I do it (washing dishes, for example), then I'll put on whatever it is that I'm most into listening to at that particular moment -- in other words, anything at all, no matter how difficult or challenging. On the other hand, if it's something that requires me to think while I'm working (financial paperwork, for instance), or move from room to room (general straightening up), then I need something that I don't have to follow too closely, and can "come back to" periodically without feeling like I messed the critical moment. Lots of Irish or Scottish music is good for this (Altan, Bonnie Rideout), as is American instrumental old-time music (Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Paul Smith, some Norman Blake). Other favorites in this vein include some of Keith Jarrett's long solo piano improvisations (the Koln concert, etc.); music by Oregon, collectively and as individuals (Ralph Towner, Paul McCandless); and recent favorites by a couple of Malian guitarists -- Ali Farka Toure and Habib Koite. My problem: I spend half of my allotted housework time deciding what music should play in the background, and the rest of the time I'm running back into the room where the stero is to catch a favorite moment. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Jun 00 - 10:50 AM Christian music to survive kitchen chores from hell. Jesus is a great dishwasher, being the servant King he is, and he runs my hands while I sing my lil soul out. Not kidding. Satan lived at our house for awhile. Jesus washed that devil right outta my hair. No Christian-bashing now-- I am answering a valid question asked, as true as I know how, and yes, I have the songs all memorized (in case any of the more prejudiced among us can't see past the Christian here well enough to see the musician). ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 19 Jun 00 - 11:05 AM I'm likely to do my share of the chores (and ,yes, they include the kitchen & bathroom cleaning & the vacuuming!) "harmonising" ("What is that racket?": Mrs S.) to my Discman , "Midnight Special" or "Alabamy bound" are favourites. Mrs Skiffler, being (as she tells everyone) MUCH younger, dusts and polishes to hits of the '60s but does the ironing to audiobooks or radio (The Archers omnibus!). I do the washing up to radio:Paul Jones blues programme, Humphrey Lyttleton's jazz record requests and ,occasionally, Folk on Four. Domestic harmony over nearly 30 years has been achieved by a well-armed detachment of UN peacekeepers and a sign on the fridge which says: "My kitchen is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy". RtS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Crowhugger Date: 19 Jun 00 - 11:33 AM Tsk, tsk! Obliteration of heavenly strains with a vacuum cleaner, indeed. Seriously, though, I absolutely cannot abide vacuum cleaner noise for more than 3 or 4 minutes, so don't wear white socks here if you want to keep them that colour. Other chores accompanied by high-volume: Handel's Messiah, Grateful Dead, Bruce Cockburn, Emmylou Harris, Joan Armatrading, Flatt & Scruggs, Liszt piano concerto No. 1, piano duet versions of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances ('Anagnusson & Kinton' RULES!), Dave Grisman. Stuff like that. I've not met a speaker cone I couldn't wreck with housework. CH.
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Kim C Date: 19 Jun 00 - 11:44 AM I like to sew to Ian Tyson, and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' Pack Up the Plantation live album. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Mbo Date: 19 Jun 00 - 11:54 AM OOh, Slavonic Dances!!! Dvorak, I find is great music for BLASTING!!! My favfe Slavonic Dance is the Serbian kolo...anyway, vaccuum cleaner noise is AWESOME. Technically, it's a drone, so I find it's pitch, and whistle bagpipe tunes over top of it. Try it yerself! --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: sophocleese Date: 19 Jun 00 - 12:29 PM Bob Marley or Geoffrey Oryema. The rhythm helps me stay on the move as I tidy things up and wander around the apartment. When I'm in the basement folding and ironing I like to take down the words to the latest song I'm trying to memorize and sing them. That way when I come up from the depths I not only have a basket of clean folded laundry but also a short song or half a long one in my head. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: M Date: 19 Jun 00 - 01:02 PM Mbo--a man with similar eclectic tastes and who likes to clean! (How about Greek folk music, gamalon, Rage Against The Machine, Tuvan throat singers, Astor Piazzolla and ambient groove?) Come over to my house anytime! Personally, I can't listen to music and clean--the cleaning is too distracting. M |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: IvanB Date: 19 Jun 00 - 02:01 PM Frankly, the rule in our house is that a bed that's made probably indicates the house is for sale! But for those times when cleaning becomes a necessity (and, of course, in the case of the kitchen, that's daily) ANY music will do except heavy metal. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Jim the Bart Date: 19 Jun 00 - 02:04 PM As a child, Saturday was clean up the house day. And I got good at it. And then, house-husbanding while my sweetie supported us and the band floundered around honed my peculiar skills in cooking, cleaning and laundering. Now I find the no-mind chores to be rejuvenating; after a week of non-achieving in the typical corporate setting, it's good to see jobs get done, even if only for a short while. And my favorite music to clean by lately is "Joe Dirt Car" by the BoDeans or any Bruce Cockburn. The ironic thing is that as a kid, my parents always told me to turn it down. Now it's my kids: "Dad, does it have to be so loud?" You're darned right, it does. And since we got my folks a good stereo, if you stop by on a Saturday you'll find cleaning and Polkas. It's a great combination, I must admit. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Crowhugger Date: 19 Jun 00 - 03:15 PM Soph, I do that when I'm gardening, just put the words and/or music somewhere fairly safe from flying debris. The motivation to recall correctly increases as I wish to avoid the annoyance of leaving my precious earthworms to go have a look at what comes next. Sometimes I find myself trying to imitate bird songs (an octave or more lower--I'll bet your sweet treble can get most of them at pitch) but it's a challenge with only one set of vocal cords when birds usually have two. Meebs, yes, there is usually a predominant pitch to the drone, but I'm very sensitive to upper partials which are too cacaphonous to my ear when generated by electric motors. Gas motors offer only a slight improvement, which is offset by the greater volume. Given the many musical interests I have, [did you know that teasel seed in a plastic bottle makes a great shaker? or that a length of septic tank drain hose with one end covered like a drum makes a fabulous shhhuk-sshhhuka when stroked with a hairbrush?] I doubt I'll be investigating which amp ratings, rpm, horsepower etc. are the least bothersome to me.
Cheers! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Lucius Date: 19 Jun 00 - 03:24 PM Personally, I like washing dishes to Sun Ra's Fate in a Pleasant Mood. However, speaking on behalf of almost every "mature" cook that I have worked with, there is nothing like old Tom Waits in a professional kitchen. Lucius |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Whistle Stop Date: 19 Jun 00 - 03:47 PM Lucius, I'm glad you mentioned Tom Waits. His song "I Can't Wait To Get Off Work (To See My Baby)" is a great one, and a very suitable background for any kind of domestic chores. It's the last song on his "Small Change" album, if anyone's looking for it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: GUEST Date: 20 Jun 00 - 12:43 PM Mozart's "Overture" to "The Marriage Of Figaro" is great to wake up to. A majestic way to start the day. "Cleaning " music depends on the chore. John Prine and kitchen work (washing dishes, cooking, mopping) seem to go together. For labor intensive chores like scouring the bathtub, and general scrubbing: bone crunching music...something to get the rage focused on the grime - for old geezers like me that equates to Led Zeppelin, The Who, or suitable substitute. You young whipper-snappers might fancy something like Kid Rock better. Play Rage Against The Machine and you get all the outrage you need to declare war on filth, plus the daily recommended allowance of songs with a political message. A two-fer good deal! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: hrodelbert Date: 20 Jun 00 - 07:42 PM The easiest way to cope with housework is to sit in your most confortable chair midst all the chores and drop your standards and then listen to the music. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Marion Date: 21 Jun 00 - 11:46 AM Katlaughing, the Barbie song that you mention: is it the one that begins "Don't throw your Barbie dolls in the ocean. There are more important things for them to do."? I learned a cool song about Barbie from a friend, but have no idea of its source. Not that I really need to know its source, but just curious. Marion |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Mbo Date: 21 Jun 00 - 11:52 AM Not that one, Marion. It's by the Scandinavia pop group Aqua. Here are the lyrics! --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: alison Date: 21 Jun 00 - 11:56 AM The song kat mentioned is "I'm a barbie girl in a barbie world......" Hoovering.... Billy Idol.. anything from the "Idol songs" CD... but especially "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell"..... or "Gypsies, tramps and thieves" by Cher.... Ironing, (very rare occurence if I can possibly help it).... Dvorak "New World Symphony" or Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scherezade"... or anything by Vaughan Williams..... cooking... usually Clannad or some other Celtic folk stuff slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: GUEST,JulieF Date: 21 Jun 00 - 12:04 PM It really raises my spirts to think that perhaps I am not alone in my undomesticness. We all have an amazing ability to ignore the mess around us. It gives teenagers a great excuse: "Tidy your room Cat" - "why should I it's tidier than the rest of the house." The only way I have ever coped with house work is to go round muttering - Every little bit helps - which is a downright lie - a lot helps , a little bit is merely dirt transference. Almost any music goes with housework - I have found that some Wagner is particulary good. Pop singalongs or some headbanging stuff works just a well. But then I take so long deciding what to listen to I've got to go and do something more important instead. Julie |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: Mbo Date: 21 Jun 00 - 12:05 PM Yes! Rebel Yell is awesome to do printmaking to! I know from experience! --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Domestic Harmony? From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Jun 00 - 12:42 PM OK, see if I can still do this... ~S~ |