Monthly Archives: August 2026

Creative Pursuits, Grandparenting, Imagination, Joy, Music, Playlists

In Cahoots with One Hit Wonders

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Today’s blog post is inspired by my 12 year-old grandson and my now-confirmed-by-a-professional audiologist hearing loss.

The week before last, I went in for the hearing test I’d been putting off for longer than I care to acknowledge. I pretty much knew that I was going to test “positive” for hearing loss, though the degree to which my hearing has sunk was a surprise. The audiologist said he was stunned that I’ve managed for this long with my level of hearing. Hearing aids have been ordered and I’m trying not to get too anxious about how it might go. But I’m hopeful.

During a recent weekend spent with our grandson, he and I bonded over our love of music. I learned his current favorite song is “Cecilia”, by Simon and Garfunkel. I even introduced him to what it sounds like on vinyl! Since it was on my borrowed “Bridge Over Troubled Water” album, I also introduced him to that most chillingly beautiful song. I just can’t not think about and talk about and listen to great music right now.

On another (musically-related) note, I’ve decided that “In Cahoots” is going to be the name of my pretend band. It’s perfection, really. Though there’s probably another band with the same name out there, somewhere. It stands to reason, right? I will not employ the Google machine to verify this, because it’s way more fun to pretend that I am the clever gal who came up with the best band name ever.

I imagine that my pretend “In Cahoots” band specializes in one-hit wonders (categorized as an act that had one hit song in the top 40 Billboard chart) from 1967, the year I was born, through 2026. I suppose this means they’d have to be a pretty large band with a mix of voices and the ability to perform a variety of musical styles. But, this is my imagination at play here, and there should be no rules when it comes our imaginations.

I’ve been in a happy little bubble for a few days now, curating a Spotify playlist (the 14 year-old version of me is geeking out over here!) for myself of exclusively one-hit-wonders. Just for fun, you know? I’ve started out by picking a couple of “one hit wonder” songs from each year for this playlist, ones that 1) remind me of a specific era in my life and/or 2) that I really enjoy. What I suspect, as I move forward with this quest, is that there will be fewer “one hit wonders” the closer I get to the year 2026. I’ve gotten through all of the 90’s at this point so I’ll see if my theory proves correct before too long.

Why I think this, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I feel like, especially in the 70’s and 80’s, pop music was so much more experimental (hence a larger portion may not have been commercially successful) than it is now. I mean, have you ever listened to the song “In the Year 2525”, by, I kid you not, Exordium and Terminus/Little Kids (what?! So many questions!) from 1969? Not like I actually recommend it, but it is also, you guessed it, a one-hit wonder.

Naturally, I’m also very intrigued about what may have become of these one-hit wonder acts. It makes me think of that character in a movie I still adore in spite of it’s problems, “Love Actually”. One of the love stories within this movie is about a man who was convinced to come out of retirement to re-imagine his one-hit wonder as a (colossally bad and cheesy) Christmas song. There’s got to be so many stories out there of lives lived leading up to, during, and after musical acts and their one-hit wonders. That’s a “behind the music” type of show I would certainly watch. How about you?

Hot takes on this little musical game I’m playing with myself so far:

“Loser” by Beck was a one-hit wonder. I have been a fan of Beck for several years now, and I was stunned to learn he hasn’t had any other top 40 hits. I suppose he is more critically lauded than he is commercially successful?

1983’s “one-hit wonders” were the worst of them all (through the 90’s anyway). To the point where none of them will be represented on my Spotify playlist.

The song “Layla” (with that luscious never-ending piano and guitar melody at the end) from 1972 was technically a one-hit wonder too! It’s because it was released by the short-lived band Derek and the Dominos before Eric Clapton found humongous success as a solo act.

I think the next time our grandson comes over, I’ll share this playlist with him and see his reaction. I’m sure he will be full of questions and commentary about it.

Here’s a one-hit wonder from 1982, which was featured in a movie I remember loving so much in high school, “Valley Girl”. I had quite the crush on Nicolas Cage back then. I thought he was so effortlessly cool and exotic. So, tell me, my fellow music lovers, what is your favorite one-hit wonder? Please share in the comments!

BingeworthyTV, Books, Cooking, Lifestyle, Music, Reading, Summer

Summertime Binge-Watching, Reading, and Eating

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How is your summer going so far, my friends? Are you staying busy? Hopefully not too busy. We all know that’s no fun.

Life is going at a bit of a more leisurely pace at this point in the Summer of 2026. I’m enjoying our lifestyle here in Minnesconsin with only myself, Mr. NOA and our two silly dogs to care for. There’s no big plans for any travel for the forseeable future for us. To my surprise, I’m okay with that. We are getting cracking on the multitude of small (and large) home improvement projects on the master list created at the beginning of the season though, which I’m really happy about.

From replacing flooring (our entryway no longer has green carpet, thanks to Mr. NOA!), to a bathroom remodel, to switching out light fixtures, we certainly have our work cut out for us. We have decided to do it all piece-meal, doing the work ourselves as much as we can and as our finances allow. Our objective is to just keep moving forward and always have a project we are working on around here.

Of course not all my down-time is dedicated to DIY home improvement projects. I mean, maybe it should be? Yet there are other activities lately, like binge-watching, reading, and eating, that I’m quite enjoying these days.

What I’m binge-watching:

At night, I often relax by lounging on my couch, preferably with a dog or two next to me, and binge-watching (often limited) series on one of my streaming apps. I like that I can choose how many episodes I want to watch. Unlike a 2 hour movie, which I don’t like pausing to finish another day.

Of course, there’s the danger of getting so engrossed in the story that I’m watching, that I’ll blow far past my bedtime and regret it the next day. Restraint is key.

The most recent binge-watch for me is “5 Star Weekend” on Peacock. It was unexpected. I came into it thinking it would be mindless, fluffy, and all “girls just want to have fun”. Instead, I was treated to a realistic portrait of a group of female friends. The actors in this series captured the awkwardness of meeting a friend’s friend for the first time as an adult. It also got me thinking of the different sorts of friends we make as women throughout our lives, from those who we befriended as girls to those we collect along the way. I never thought I’d hear Jennifer Garner say the “f bomb” though. However, as an appreciator of salty language, I found it refreshing. I’d say if you liked “Wine Country” (on Netflix), starring one of my favorite comic female actors, Amy Poehler, you will enjoy this one.

What I’m Reading:

American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins. Got it from my local library. It’d been a minute since I’d been there. It is a very harrowing tale of a mother and her 8 year-old son’s trek to the U.S. to escape horrific violence in Acapulco. Jumping onto the top of trains, always keeping an eye out for those who may mean them harm. It’s about motherhood and womanhood, and fear, and class. It’s engrossing and heartbreaking, and it’s a book that I know I will never forget. If we could get everyone to read this book, I suspect that my fellow Americans’ attitudes towards the plight of immigrants would change.

What I’m eating:

I love the simplicity of cooking in the summer. Oftentimes, it’s not even so much cooking as it is throwing things together. Like the other night, when I made a charcuterie board for Mr. NOA and I to graze on in place of a “real” supper. Those little tomatoes, fresh and at the peak of ripeness, that we grow in these big planters outside in the doggie’s “playpen” (the fence we put up earlier this summer). It’s such a little treat to slice those up and sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper on them to accompany our unfussy summer suppers. Adding sliced cucumbers purchased from the Farmer’s Market and some lovely sliced sourdough with italian seasonings, and it’s *chef’s kiss* to me. A couple of weeks ago, I clipped off the leaves from our basil plant and made a delectable little pesto, which was phenomenal on toasted sliced French bread with thinly sliced tomatoes and a sprinkling of Italian cheese blend. I’m hoping to do that again before the summer ends.

So, friends, tell me, what is it that you are binge-watching, reading, and eating during these “dog days” of summer?

Let me leave you with a song that I love very much. It popped into my head last night, as Mr. NOA were out in the yard and I noticed a pair of honeybees enjoying the goldenrod in one of ou