I just returned from a trip to see the advice nurse, which turned into a visit with my doctor. Seems I have scarring on my eustacian tubes, which combined with allergies and drainage (I know, gross) has caused me to have severe ear pain. Pressure changes, which happen all the time apparently, are causing searing sharp pain in my ears throughout the day. They asked me what I meant by that and I said it felt like someone was shoving a hot poker into my ear with a lot of force. My doctor, who has a great sense of humor, then said to me… is someone shoving a hot poker into your ear when you feel this pain? I laughed. She asked me if I had hearing loss because the scarring was bad enough she suspected I did. I said… huh? Then she laughed. I told her I had no idea if I had hearing loss. I didn’t think I did, but then maybe it was about to go suddenly, kind of like my eyesight did a couple of years ago. We both laughed. Other than the searing pain I told her my ears are just nicely a bit sore and full feeling. Still not good, but not searing pain… which equals good in my book. I am not whining here. OK, maybe I am just a tad. But seriously, I’m not really whining. It’s just that I hate going to the doctor, already really knowing what’s up, and then having them tell me what I thought all along. Though they said it was good I came in because I might have had an infection. They don’t want this to turn into one so they have given me something to try and clear them up and then told me to take stuff to take the swelling down. Yay… they are swollen too. They asked me questions like… did you have tubes in your ears when you were a kid? No. Did you ever have them lanced? No. Do you get dizzy once in awhile. Yes… I get vertigo occasionally. Do you know you have scarring in there? It’s obvious you’ve had some sort of ear trauma. Do you shove q-tips in there really deep to clean them? Uh… no. I do use them, but I don’t shove them way in there… that would just be silly, and painful. I had no idea I have scarring my ears. Like I said above, scarring has caused my tubes to be a lot smaller than normal. I’ve had a lot of problems with my ears over the years. Had stuff as a kid a lot. Had vertigo on and off all my life. And the culprit of all of this is… scarring and the resulting small tubes. I left with a smile on my face… which, let’s face it, is me anyway. Regardless of what’s going on I am usually smiling like an idiot. Smiling or not though, I’ve had about an ear full of this right now. This ear pain can go it’s own way any time soon. Yes it can.

Music sometimes makes a scene, or a movie for that matter. Here’s a selection of tunes used in films that had an impact on me. By no means a comprehensive list, but a few who sprung to mind when I thought of doing this post. Enjoy and feel free to add your own in the comments section. Always looking for new music, new films to see, or reminders of films and music I’d forgotten about.

Let the River Run     – Carly Simon – Working Girl

A nice little fable of a film. The song, at the end, sort of sums it up and lends itself to that feel good feeling.

Band of Brothers Requim – Band of Brothers

Beautiful piece of music and a fantastic mini series. If you haven’t seen it… do so. You may cry a lot, I did, but it’s amazing.

Have a Little Faith in Me – John Hiatt – Benny and Joon

I fell in love with this song after hearing it in this movie. A little fable of a film. This film just works.

Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon – Urge Overkill – Pulp Fiction

Tarantino knows how to use music in his films. This scene is just plain riveting. And the music in it is perfect for it.

Come What May – Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman – Moulan Rouge

I had no idea these two could sing, and sing so well. Besides which, this is a lovely lovely song.

Cell Block Tango – Various – Chicago

Fun fun. Listen to this a couple of times and you’ll find yourself singing along.

She’s Like The Wind – Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancing

Patrick Swayze singing. Who doesn’t love that? Or love this movie for that matter. No one puts baby in a corner.

I Am Changing – Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson’s defining movie moment.

Long Ride Home – Patty Griffin – Elizabethtown

One of my favorite songs which was used really well in this movie.

Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Once

A fantastic little film with some awesome music. If you have never seen this, or heard the soundtrack, or listened to the Frames, check some or all of that out. The two from this movie now have their own band called The Swell Season.

Vianne Sets Up Shop – Chocolat

This music just simply makes me happy.

Cruisin’ – Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis – Duets

Who knew Gwyneth could sing this well. Wow.

You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton John – Grease

No list is really complete without this. If you are a person of my age, give or take 10 years either way, you know and at least secretly, if not down right openly, love this song and this scene.

Back Where You Belong – Sinead O’Conner – The Water Horse

Just a really gorgeous song.

You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate – The Full Monty

Who doesn’t love rough burly guys dancing… I ask you.

All I Want Is You – U2 – Reality Bites

This song sort of sums up this entire movie.

Stuck In The Middle With You – Steeler’s Wheel – Reservoir Dogs

Ear cutting off scene so beware…. Tarantino knows how to use music in his films.

Goodbye Horses – Q Lazzarus – The Silence of the Lambs

R Rated, for those who care. I’d advise not watching if you do.

In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel – Say Anything

Iconic image from film this one. I think this spawned thousands of incidents where guys stood outside girl’s homes and played music.

Lust for Life – Iggy Pop – Trainspotting

Ok… so the voice over is in french, but for the purposes of this post it’s the music that counts….

In The Deep – Bird York – Crash

A truly intense gritty movie. Loved it. And loved this song in it.

People Are Strange – Echo & The Bunnymen – Lost Boys

The song in the first part of this clip is Gerard McMann’s Cry Little Sister, also good… Love when People Are Strange is playing and scenes of regular people doing what they do.

Sweet Jane – Cowboy Junkies – Prelude To A Kiss

Unfortunately I couldn’t find a video clip from the movie with the song in it so I had to settle for the video. A lot of people haven’t even heard of this movie. I liked it. Also a little fable of a movie.

American Girl – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Silence of the Lambs

The girl, before being kidnapped, drives along singing this song at the top of her lungs, no care in the world… and then… the second tune from this film. What can I say?

Like To Get To Know You Well – Howard Jones – Better Off Dead

This is the music video, not the clip from the movie… unfortunately.

Across 110th Street – Bobby Womack – Jackie Brown

A fantastic intro/opening credits to a movie. Love this and again love Tarantino’s use of music in a film.

After A Walk, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Had to post this little number. Karen and I took a walk, with the pups, around the Belmont neighborhood last weekend. It was gorgeous out and gorgeous weather always calls for a walk. The dogs, of course, love it when we go on a walkabout. They were a bit thirsty, as you would expect, by the time we got back to the car. Riley is in the red collar, and Weston is behind her.