In My Car
Posted by harlan on 22 Apr 2008 at 06:51 am | Tagged as: marking time
Driving to work today, I pulled up at a stoplight and looked across through the window of the car to my right. The driver, alone like me, was singing. It looked like she was enjoying herself, so I kept watching.
After a few seconds, she turned and our eyes met. She could see that I had been watching her sing in her car. Now, if someone ever saw me singing in my car, I would be so mortified I’d probably drive full-speed over the next convenient cliff, just to end the embarrassment.
But she just smiled, nodded, and kept on singing. She didn’t care if someone saw her singing in her car. Why should she? She wasn’t bothering anyone, and she was enjoying the song.
I would give anything in the world to be able to do that.
Isolation Score: 8.9
Harlan…you need medicated. I say that with love. But seriously, go get some anti-anxiety medication.
“drive full-speed over the next convenient cliff”
DO IT!
Why not do it? I’m all about systematic desensatization. Start by humming with the windows down, whistle and smile and such, then go full out singing and dancing. Baby Steps Harlan, baby steps.
Confidence = NOT stealing, cheating, gambling and lying
Why can’t you do that? Just decide it’s okay and do it. Isn’t it that simple? Why do you care so much what a complete stranger thinks? It’s not like you’ll ever see her again. We’re all entitled to moments of public embarrassment. Indeed, most of us are publicly humiliated often, if not actually daily. It’s considered healthy to brush it off and go on. And, it’s not like you can take the moment back after it has happened. Dwelling on it changes nothing, especially if you don’t learn to filter after you do or say something stupid. Having said all that, singing in your car isn’t stupid, awkward, embarrassing or humiliating. Everyone does it. Just don’t be hard core rapping with the windows down on the freeway in Detroit!
I’m singing in the car
Just singing in the car
What a glorious feelin’
I’m happy so far
I’m laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun’s in my heart
And I’m ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
I’ve a smile on my face
I drive down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin’,
Singin’ in the car
Dancin’ in the car
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
I’m happy again!
I’m singin’ and dancin’ in the car!
I’m dancin’ and singin’ in the car…
[ADDITIONAL VERSE]
Why am I smiling
And why do I sing?
Why does September
Seem sunny as spring?
Why do I get up
Each morning and start?
Happy and head up
With joy in my heart
Why is each new task
A trifle to do?
Because I am living
A life full of you.
Well. As a passionate car-singer, I’m embarrassed for people who DON’T bust out in song whilst driving. I’m convinced that the people in the cars beside me looking at me sideways are actually envious of the unabashed good times I’m having in my vehicle…
Or something.
Harness your inner “Buzz” and start car-singing. The people looking at you funny will only wish they had your joie de vivre - even if you are only *pretending* to have ‘joie.’
Fake it till ya make it, buddy.
I once got dirty looks from a neighbor lady who apparently didn’t think it was appropriate for me to carry on an animated conversation in the front yard with my dog. I feel sorry for those sort of people.
Harlan, would it be easier for you to lip sync in the car?
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It’s the only way to live
In cars
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days
In cars
Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please?
If I open my door
In cars
Here in my car
I know I’ve started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right
In cars
You should start with public nudity. After you get used to that, someone seeing you singing in your car will be no big deal at all.
Singing in the car certainly can incite happiness~really Harlan, give it a try. And if someone sees you, beep & wave.
I was born yesterday
When they brought my Kamakiri
When they handed me the keys
It’s a steam-power 10
The frame is out of Glasgow
The tech is Balinese
It’s not a freeway bullet
Or a bug with monster wheels
It’s a total biosphere
The farm in the back
Is hydroponic
Good, fresh things
Every day of the year
Good, fresh things
Every day of the year
With all screens and functions
In sync lock with Tripstar
This cool rolling bubble
Is all set to samba
This route could be trouble
(This route could be trouble)
Chorus:
Steamin’ up
That Trans-Island Skyway
Tryin’ to make that final deadline
And if the lanes are clear
We’re gonna drive a little harder
We’ll be deep in the Zone by cryin’ time
Say, there’s a wreck
On the side of the road
Lots of blood and broken glass
The kid who was driving
I know from somewhere
Some kids just drive too fast
Wait just a minute
There’s a beautiful survivor
With dancer’s legs and laughing eyes
C’mon snakehips, it’s all over now
Strap in tight cause it’s a long sweet ride
Relax - put some sounds on
I’ll brew up some decaf
C’mon kick off those heels ma’am
Now breathe in and sigh out
Let’s get with the program
(Let’s talk about the good times)
Chorus
We reach the sprangle
Just at dawn
These little streets I used to know
Is that my father
Mowin’ the lawn
(C’mon daddy get in let’s go)
C’mon daddy get in let’s go
C’mon daddy get in let’s go
C’mon daddy get in let’s go
C’mon daddy get in let’s go
C’mon daddy get in let’s go
C’mon daddy get in let’s go
We pull into Five Zoos
Past motels and drive-thrus
That noon sun is blinding
The tidepools are boiling
Below plates are grinding
(Let’s talk about the good times)
Chorus
For Arlen,
Young Johnny Steele has an Oldsmobile
He loves his dear little girl
She is the queen of his gas machine
She has his heart in a whirl
Now when they go for a spin, you know,
She tries to learn the auto, so
He lets her steer, while he gets her ear
And whispers soft and low
[Chorus]
Come away with me Lucille
In my merry Oldsmobile
Down the road of life we’ll fly
Automobubbling, you and I
To the church we’ll swiftly steal
Then our wedding bells will peal
You can go as far as you like with me
In my merry Oldsmobile
They love to “spark” in the dark old park
As they go flying along
She says she knows why the motor goes
The “sparker” is awfully strong
Each day they “spoon” to the engine’s tune
Their honeymoon will happen soon
He’ll win Lucille with his Oldsmobile
And then he’ll fondly croon
[Chorus]
Why Asshat, that is just the sweetest thing I ever did hear!
Way to go Asshat. I think Arlen has officially joined the Asshat groupies. Do you swing the other way too? Am I wasting my time and sweet, sticky cinnabons here? Trust me to become a groupie to a gay man! Argh.
Moshizzle, I don’t know what side of the cinnamon bun Arlen butters . . . you’d have to ask him. I’m an asshat, but a straight one. Do you often find yourself falling for gay men? Is that perhaps because all the men you encounter are Canadian?
You need some confidence excercises, self book, this one might just help you:
http://www.amazon.com/Confidence-Plan-How-Build-Stronger/dp/1402203497
Harlan, don’t be embarrassed to sing in your car! The windows are rolled up! While your at it, bust a move!
That was me!
Would you really give anything? If you get on Effexor XR 150 mg, after about 6 months you will be able to do that. I guarantee it.
Asshat, I don’t know but it sure feels like it. I just wanna know, who does a girl have to sleep with to get some sex around here? Bertha?? Sorry, I’m just a tad frustraged. I’ll go rant and rave on my own blog now.
Well, not every booty call is going to be answered, Moshizzle. I hear that even Bertha’s not answering. Perhaps you could try some drunken blogging, then go to bed, then write an apology tomorrow.
As far as who you need to sleep with to have some sex around here, I think all those arrangements have to be approved by The Fat Kid or somebody like him.
What’s become of Ernest? I almost miss his latinized didactics. It’s been nearly a whole day without any linguistic trivia, mathematical constructs or 1970’s pop psychology. Did he leave and take his homologs with him?
I sing into my motorcycle helmet.
A, it’s not so much the calls that aren’t answered as the calls that are coordinated and then canceled at the last minute. If a girl shaves her legs and then nobody takes advantage of the silky smooth calves, does anyone hear her screaming?
I can hear you screaming, Moshizzle. It’s a bitch, all that surface area, smooth for no one but you. I wear tight ass shorts and walk around in those and high heels when I shave for no one. I also wash my sheets with extra fabric softener for that silky feeling on both sides. And I have been known to run a tomato up my leg, just to see if the thin skin detects anything. So far, no.
Just do it!
There is nothing wrong with singing in the car. I lip synch to my music when i walk down the street. I’m sure i look like i’m talking to myself, but i don’t care! Good song to sing in the car “Don’t Stop me Now” by Queen.
Thanks, Chuck, for almost missing me. Truth be told, I think Harlan’s self-consciousness is rubbing off on me. When enough people call you a bloviating didact you can’t help but be a bit circumspect. Anyway, abusus non tollit usum – just because something can be abused does not mean that it must be. Saying it in Latin is almost homological, isn’t it.
We’ll give it to you this time, Ernest. But let’s stop short of the ad absurdum extreme, OK?
How I miss being able to sing in the car. It’s just not the same on the subway. People think you want money instead of knowing you’re just rocking out because you can.
E, I would like to apologize for not appropriately expressing appreciation for your verbosity. I, too, was looking for you yesterday.
Likewise, Ernest. And congratulations on having homologs who can speak Latin almost as well as you. None of the homologs I know can speak any Latin. Of course, in my case it’s a matter of quod per me non possum, nec per alium.
It’s Wednesday, Harlan. On your way home you’d better pick up some cinnamon buns and roses. Just in case.
You should try to be more positive, Ernest. You still are a bloviating didact, but the fact that you’ve become more circumspect about it shows hope for the future.
Ah, a taste of my own medicine. Yum! Verbosity is a great word, and one which, in combination with prolix mates, can be quite homological. (Sorry, Pollyanna would agree that any hope for my future would involve even more circumspection; and less schtick.) I will say, in my own defense, that some of these homolog / commenters are from outside any circle I know.
And Asshat, you sandbagging quipster you. That was the perfect rejoinder. “What I cannot do through myself, I cannot do through another.” Indeed.
Oops, that was meant to be from me.
Maybe I’ll end up racing Harlan to the cliff.
Really? I was wondering why that ass guy was talking about non possums. I know what a possum is but I sure as shit don’t know anything about non possums.
Yea it takes some skill to get the level where you can sing and not care what other people think…from what I have seen it usually takes alot of alcohol, so good for her! As for you its not too hard to get to that point, like someone posted earlier its baby steps, and alot of the time you need to try and turn off your brain, hard to do, but once you master the art of just not thinking your pretty much golden to do whatever you want, even, get this, talk to girls….