It’s been a long week folks: migraine, insomnia, a lack of writing time, homesickness. On weeks like this, hell, on just one day like this, I need a fistful of these tunes to keep me where the light is. You can watch them all in a row here (except for Hothouse Flowers, which I couldn’t find.) I hope one or two of them give you sustenance and joy this weekend.

Do you have a song that gets you through the tough spots? Got a list of *8 over at your place? Link ‘em in the comments, pretty please!

1) Gravity, John Mayer

2) These Streets, Paolo Nutini
(brought to me by Dreamer Girl)

3) Yahweh, U2

4) Strange and Beautiful, Aqualung

5) It Will Be Easier in the Morning, Hothouse Flowers

6) Light and Day, Polyphonic Spree

7) I Was Meant for the Stage, The Decemberists

8) We Crawl, Polyphonic Spree

Other *8: about, I Believe

There are things I believe in at bedrock level—ideas I cannot imagine myself without. The kind of stuff you feel like you might carry around in your genetic blueprint.

Yet as strong as my passion is for these ideas, I know the list could change – the list has changed. There are definitely fewer ideologies I feel confident of these days. But if anything, the ones that remain have become stronger, more distilled with age.

These are them, these are they. If I could wear them on a t-shirt I would.

In case you are interested. In case you’d like to know more.

*8 Things: I Believe

1. “You have to use art to preach”

2. “God does not have a penis.”

3. “Make dialogue, not debate, your primary language.”

4. “I heart pagans.”

5. “Gentlemen, kindly own your own shit.”

6. “Christianity is extending the loving hand of Christ to the world.”

7. “Jesus got ‘jacked.”

8. “I speak patriarchy, but it’s not my mother tongue.”

Now, for a limited time, random days of the week will become “8 Things” days, in which I will list 8 things on a themed list.

This week: “*8 Things I Believe.” See them first on Twitter, where they’ll run through the day. Follow me! (So free! So fun!)

If any of these make you go, “Hmmmm…” let me know and I’ll try to blog more about them.

Caution: This is an attempt by the management to quiten down her monkey mind. We shall see what happens….