Songs With "Easy" In The Title

Some scientific smartypants said that for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, for every "Songs With 'Hard' In The Title" blog post, there must be also be a "Songs With 'Easy' In The Title." And here it is...  ~  JH

1)  Engelbert Humperdinck  ~  "Am I That Easy To Forget?"

2)  Commodores  ~  "Easy"

3)  Rascal Flatts & Natasha Bedingfield  ~  "Easy"

4)  Bobby Sherman  ~  "Easy Come, Easy Go"

5)  Elvis Presley  ~  "Such An Easy Question"

6)  Three Dog Night  ~  "Easy To Be Hard"

7)  Willie Nelson & Johnny Rodriguez  ~  "Forgiving You Was Easy"

8)  Dierks Bentley  ~  "Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go)"

9)  Keith Carradine  ~  "I'm Easy"

10)  Ringo Starr  ~  "It Don't Come Easy"

11)  Eagles  ~  "Take It Easy"

12)  ABBA  ~  "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)"

13)  Sarah McLachlan  ~  "Loving You Is Easy"

14)  Cleopatra  ~  "Life Ain't Easy"

15)  Buddy Holly  ~  "It's So Easy"

Songs With "Hard" In The Title

There's nothing dirty to be heard here. Just songs which, coincidentally, all contain the word "Hard" in their titles. Next time, to keep things balanced, I'll post songs all containing the word "Easy." Enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  Brandon Flowers  ~  "Hard Enough"

2)  Black Crowes  ~  "Hard To Handle"

3)  Chicago  ~  "Hard Habit To Break"

4)  Emmylou Harris  ~  "Hard Bargain"

5)  Lee Brice  ~  "Hard To Love"

6)  Alan Jackson  ~  "Hard Hat And A Hammer"

7)  Quarterflash  ~  "Harden My Heart"

8)  Brandi Carlile  ~  "Hard Way Home"

9)  Jimmy Cliff  ~  "The Harder They Come"

10)  Maroon 5  ~  "Harder To Breathe"

11)  Sheryl Crow  ~  "Hard To Make A Stand"

12)  Five Finger Death Punch  ~  "Hard To See"

13)  Elton John  ~  "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"

14)  Boyz II Men  ~  "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday"

15)  The Beatles  ~  "A Hard Day's Night"

Story # 35: "35"

And...this one is about me... Isn't it? Well, I'll just let you figure that out. Enjoy!  ~  JH

"35"

35 years old, and what is he? A husband, but hardly a hopeless romantic – that man's still inside but rarely emerges. A father, but green and rough around the edges, learning but failing as a matter of course. A son who doesn't call much, and when he does, doesn't listen closely enough. A so-called servant who gets caught up in himself far too often and questions his motives regularly. A writer of stories and poems and essays that no one wants to read unless amusing pictures are involved. A describer of clothing by profession, having nearly perfected the gentle art of literary persuasion as a method of salesmanship, yet still wondering how he ended up with this dubious expertise. A dirty, rotten sinner who practices his trade daily and repents and practices and repents and so on and so on. A man who isn't ashamed to admit his failures, who's often too prideful in flaunting his successes, yet is deathly afraid of letting anyone in for fear of rejection over either. This is what 35 years looks like. Old enough to know some things, but still too young to comprehend others. Halfway to dead, out of sight of the finish line, but far too far to hear the starting gun.

Story # 34: "Go Ahead, It's My Birthday"

No, this isn't about me, although today is my birthday. That's what originally gave me the idea, but I'm not this guy in the story. At least I hope I'm not... Enjoy!  ~  JH

"GO AHEAD, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY"

Take your best shot – I deserve it. The fact that I'm breathing is reason enough. Today commemorates an injustice to humanity, some fifty-odd years post-trauma. Rail on me, wail on me, decry my existence – I can handle it, and I won't crumble. I understand your position and I'll support your decision. It's my birthday and it may well be my last, for all I know or all you care. Punish me for my crimes as they are numerous, not the least of which is being. I'm no longer fit – if ever I was – to share space on earth with you or others like you. Better yet, bind me, confine me, contain me, and forget me forever – your apathy is more apt a chastisement. But by no means do nothing – I cannot continue burdening my peers. Go ahead and do what you must. I won't fight back. Not anymore.

Interesting Quotes By Famous Guys Named Larry

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

~  Larry Elder, journalist

"I've been in therapy. I know enough about myself now 

to know that I really don't need to know anymore."

~  Larry David, comedian

"I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to

be anywhere. I'm not kidding."

 ~  Larry Hagman, actor

"What's better? Dogs or broomsticks? 

I mean, will the world really ever know?"

~  Larry Bird, basketball player

"Treat your life like something to be sculpted."

~  Larry Niven, novelist

"I remind myself every morning: Nothing 

I say this day will teach me anything. So if

I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening."

~  Larry King, television host

"The two most misused words in the entire English 

vocabulary are love and friendship. A true friend

would die for you, so when you start trying to count 

them on one hand, you don't need any fingers."

~  Larry Flynt, publisher

"It's hard being black. You ever been black? 

I was black once – when I was poor."

~  Larry Holmes, boxer

"Self-parody is the first portent of age."

~  Larry McMurtry, novelist

"If two people were exactly alike, 

one of them would be unnecessary."

~  Larry Dixon, racecar driver

 "Hi, I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl.
And this is my other brother Darryl."
~  Larry, Darryl and Darryl's brother

Interesting Quotes By Famous Ladies Named Lisa

"I'm strong, I'm tough, I still wear my eyeliner."

~  Lisa Leslie, basketball player

"It's okay to be a freak."

~  Lisa Bonet, actress

"Watching a person lose their dignity used to be

uncomfortable, and now it's an expected part of the

program that we're becoming comfortable with."

~  Lisa Kudrow, actress

"I don't hold it against somebody if they don't know

who I am – I don't know who a lot of people are."

~  Lisa Loeb, singer-songwriter

"Freedom comes from strength and self-reliance."

~  Lisa Murkowski, politician

"One of the most interesting things about

bound feet is that they never age."

~  Lisa See, writer

"I'll say it loud and say it 

proud. I'm completely insane."

~  Lisa Marie Presley, singer-songwriter

"Life is a full meal."

~  Lisa Nicole Carson, actress

"Even if it's not what you planned, you can make

a life for yourself on your own and be happy."

~  Lisa Scottoline, novelist

"My reflection tells one story, my 

heart a different one. The difference 

is, hearts don't lie. Mirrors do."

~  Lisa Schroeder, writer

Story # 33: "Just You, Shirley"

This one started out as a slightly rambling prose poem, but I decided to break it up into paragraphs for easier reading. Not sure what inspired this, but it's written nonetheless and I rather like it. Hope you will too.  ~  JH

"JUST YOU, SHIRLEY"

Surely you jest!, you state surreptitiously.

I assure you I'm telling the truth, and you know it but won't admit it.

The only one left alive?, you incredulously inquire.

I nod and, solely to be redundant, say "yes" just loud enough for you to hear me.

How did I survive?, you achingly ask.

It wasn't your time, or other such nonsense, I suppose – maybe you're just lucky.

I don't believe in it, you coyly counter.

In survival or luck?

Luck.

Then chalk it up to Providence and thank your...blessed...stars, then.

I do everyday, you proudly proclaim.

Good for you, but I don't need a crutch.

Do I look broken to you?, you chidingly challenge.

No. I know it, but don't want to admit it.

How many people do you know –, you pleadingly persist.

But I interrupt you with a question of my own: Are you changing the subject now?

I'm making a point, you plainly point out.

Continue then.

How many people do you know personally who could go through what I went through and come out on the other side smiling like a fool?, you pointedly propose.

Outside of actual fools?

Yes, you nod knowingly.

Just you, Shirley.

And why do you think that is?, you strongly suggest.

Strength, fortitude, character?

Faith, you defiantly declare.

Simple as that?

Simple as that.

I'm speechless, pondering.

25 People Who Probably Aren't Being Considered As Serious Candidates To Be The Next Pope

So the papal conclave has begun. Not being a Roman Catholic myself, I don't know this firsthand, but I have heard recently that any baptized male Catholic can technically be considered a candidate for the papacy. Well, I doubt if you'll hear any of these names being bandied about as serious contenders in the coming days and weeks, but I'm just throwing them out there for the sake of argument since they technically qualify for the job. (And yes, my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek as I write this.)  ~  JH

STEVE CARELL, actor  (The Office, The 40-Year-

Old Virgin, Evan Almighty, Dinner For Schmucks)

JIM CAVIEZEL, actor  (The Passion Of The Christ, 

Pay It Forward, The Thin Red Line, Person Of Interest)

ALEC BALDWIN, actor  (30 Rock, Beetlejuice, 

The Hunt For Red October, The Departed)

JIMMY FALLON, actor/comedian  (Late Night With Jimmy

Fallon, Saturday Night Live, Almost Famous, Fever Pitch)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, actor  (The Terminator,

Predator, Total Recall, Kindergarten Cop, True Lies)

SYLVESTER STALLONE, actor/director  (Rocky, Rambo,

Tango & Cash, Demolition Man, Cliffhanger, The Expendables)

MARK WAHLBERG, actor/producer  (Boogie 

Nights, The Perfect Storm, Planet Of The Apes, Ted)

MEL GIBSON, actor/director  (Mad Max, Lethal Weapon,

Braveheart, Hamlet, The Passion Of The Christ)

MICHAEL MOORE, documentary filmmaker  

(Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling For Columbine, Sicko)

HARRY CONNICK, JR., musician/actor  (Independence 

Day, Hope Floats, P.S. I Love You, Dolphin Tale)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, singer-songwriter  ("Born In 

The U.S.A.," "Streets Of Philadelphia," "Secret Garden")

STEPHEN COLBERT, comedian/political satirist  (The 

Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Strangers With Candy)

CHRIS MATTHEWS, political commentator  

(Hardball With Chris Matthews)

CONAN O'BRIEN, comedian/television host

(Late Night With Conan O'Brien, The Tonight

Show With Conan O'Brien, Conan)

BILL O'REILLY, political commentator/author

(The O'Reilly Factor, Inside Edition)

REGIS PHILBIN, television host  (Live! With 

Regis And Kelly, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?)

TOM GLAVINE, retired MLB pitcher

(Atlanta Braves, New York Mets)

MIKE PIAZZA, retired MLB catcher

(Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Florida 

Marlins, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics)

TOM BRADY, NFL quarterback

(New England Patriots)

DAN MARINO, Hall Of Fame 

NFL quarterback  (Miami Dolphins)

KOBE BRYANT, NBA basketball

 player  (Los Angeles Lakers)

DEAN KOONTZ, novelist  (Odd Thomas, Watchers,

Mr. Murder, Relentless, Breathless, The Good Guy)

NICHOLAS SPARKS, novelist  (A Walk To Remember, The

Notebook, Nights In Rodanthe, The Lucky One, Safe Haven)

NEWT GINGRICH, politician/author  (Gettysburg, 

Grant Comes East, Never Call Retreat, Days Of Infamy)

JOE BIDEN, Vice President of the United States

(formerly a Delaware U.S. Senator)