Firstly, I have four deadlines all looming before March 1st, and meeting them primarily depends on other people. This means that I haven't done a lot of blog reading lately and will probably continue to be largely absent from your journals for the rest of the month. Feel free to e-mail if I miss something important.

Now, the real reason we're taking a break and posting:

You have them -- the songs that bring memories or make you think of certain people or particular places. For example, when I hear practically anything by Barenaked Ladies I think of my brother. When I hear old Duran Duran I think of my best friend in elementary school. "I Think We're Alone Now" makes me think of this certain fella from 1987 - 1988.

The songs that make me think of me are songs that some of my friends have told me make them think of me.

First of all, there's "Buddy Holly". I've had several friends who have associated me with this song, but the friend who stands out the most was my friend Bevin. Bevin had black spiky hair, silver contacts, and wore the best clothes, like silky periwinkle shirts with silver metallic-like short-alls. There was once a party where he got drunk on blue Tatoo and, though gay, ate out a cinder block. Um. I guess you had to be there. Anyway, we used to drive around singing to The Smiths, The Cure, and Weezer. He always said "Buddy Holly" made him think of me, and then one day he started singing, "Oh wee oh, I look just Bevin Hawly, oh oh, and you're Maaaagie Croft", and from then on those were the lyrics.

The next song is "Maggie May", which is probably about as obvious as red on an apple. Again, lots of friends who think of me when Rod starts singing, but my friend Gwen particularly sticks out. She liked to listen to me sing so I used to sing to her all the time, especially Weezer, and The Cars, and Pulp, and The Beatles, and Bob Dylan. Sometimes she'd sing along, especially if I was singing "Undone". Neither of us were great singers, but it was a good time.

Finally, there's "Back for Good", which my friend Amanda once announced was "the quintessential Maggie song", back in 1995. (Note: Take That also made a "come back" in '06. It's a trend!)

At the same time, these songs also make me think of Bevin, Amanda, and Gwen, as they should.

What about yourself? What songs make you think of you?