A snapshot of my high school life

One of the most exciting events of my life was during high school. Picture me, 14 years old (no snarky cracks about dinosaurs back there!) on a school trip - for a week - to Quebec. Our French class got permission to go visit this gorgeous city as part of our education and a chance to practice our French in "the real world".

We spent a glorious time exploring the city (and in my case, exploring the contents of an unlocked mini bar. Hey, I never said I was an angel!) I had my first shrimp cocktail. I also was the unofficial interpreter for my group of friends as I'd actually taken French for several years at this point and could muddle my way through most situations nicely. And then, finally, sadly, we got on the tour bus and started the LONG bus trip home.

It's dark, the rain is falling as the lights of passing cars shine across sleeping faces, and from the back of the bus... suddenly, in the middle of the night, a lone voice pipes up...

"ROXXANNNEEEE... you don't have to PUT on the RED light...."

a moment of silence, and then another voice... perhaps still a wee bit drunk? chimes in...

"you don't have to SELL your body to the NI-e-IGHT"

a moment later the entire bus full of high school students is singing, bouncing up and down on the seats and generally having a total musical meltdown. Our chaperons (worn out, no doubt, from chasing underage drunkards throughout the hotel for a week and finding new ways to apologize to hotel staff - in French) sighed and simply put on headphones while the bus driver gritted his teeth and mentally figured how much of a tip THIS was going to require.

Ever since, I've had a HUGE soft spot for The Police. I bought the album as soon as I got home, and my mom and dad were also treated to various renditions of not only "Roxanne", but "Synchronicity" and "Don't Stand So Close To Me". I like Sting, but I never really liked him AS MUCH solo as I did with the band. The groove really speaks to me - I think almost everyone does better work in creative collaboration with a partner, you know?

That big old vinyl LP got played about to death and is now lost to time (and probably to a sledgehammer in my Mom's backyard) so I got really pumped when I saw that The Police were getting together this summer to tour AND releasing a compilation of, well, ALL the good songs. Check out the police cd track list:


Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. Fallout
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Next to You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole in My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message in a Bottle
9. Reggatta de Blanc
10. Bring on the Night
11. Walking on the Moon
12. Don't Stand So Close to Me
13. Driven to Tears
14. Canary in a Coalmine

Disc: 2
1. Do Do Do de da da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits in the Material World
6. Demolition Man
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking in Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King of Pain
13. Murder by Numbers
14. Tea in the Sahara



I mean, HOW awesome is that?! I can't wait to get the new police cd and slap it in the CD player - maybe I'll even grab a few mini-bottles of rum "for old times sakes"... just don't tell my mom :)

ROOOXXXANNNEE...........