Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

But everything’s already been invented

My father’s father was an engineer and an inventor. He made, and lost, millions of dollars during his lifetime through a variety of business ventures.  I remember my dad and I having a conversation when I was about 13 years old about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Back then, I wanted to be the next Clarence Darrow, Attorney for the Damned.  As we were chatting, my dad told me some stories about his own father.  He remembered a conversation about the sprinkler that my grandfather invented – imagine being able to water a square area on the lawn automatically!  My dad said that someday, who knows, that I might invent something.

I distinctly remember my reply: “But everything’s already been invented.”

What else would any of us possibly need? After all, we had electricity, cars, telephones, and computers that allowed us to play Space Invaders and Asteroids from the pleasure of our own homes.

I love cool old brochures like these that show some of my grandfather’s inventions.

It was hard for me to believe that there was anything more to think of in 1984. Pre-flip-phones, pre iPhones, pre-having our technologically-rich lives today. I remember when Apple announced that they’d be getting into the mobile phone business. Of course I was excited in spite of having just recently shelled out $500 for a Nokia flip-slide phone thing, and got my first iPhone the very week they were out.  Now, it seems that pretty much everybody has one. Even my parents. iPhones have replaced calendars, address books, and cameras. We can play games on them, send emails, text and feel completely lost without them. Seriously, if I lost my phone, I would freak out.

Maybe this is how cell phones were invented?

There being nothing left to invent was initially how how I felt about today’s music when Jen said that the topic was the 2000’s.  I thought that most of what I listened to was recorded 10, 20, 30 years ago. Metallica, Nina Simone, Simon & Garfunkel, Def Leopard, Billy Idol, Def Leopard.

I wondered whether I actually know any great music from this decade. Turns out, there’s actually quite a bit of kickass music from this very millennium. I’ve told you a few times now how much I love and adore the song We Are Young, by Fun. There are others, too, including:

You Know That I’m No Good, by Amy Winehouse. It’s really too bad that Amy was such a fucking mess, because that girl could sing, people. I love this song.

I also love Live and Die, by the Avett Brothers. I love it hard, peeps.

I can’t not include Voodoo by Godsmack because it’s awesome:

Of course, in 2009, this happened:

Tucker at 2 1/2 months. It’s never too young to begin practicing how to flip the bird. I’m digging his “WTF is that?” face here, too. Probably just me.

Which means that these days, unless I’m alone in the car, I end up having to listen to shit like this that Tucker found on the iPad after I gave it to him using the search term “airplane videos for kids:”

Sorry for the earworm, friends.

Finally, for my lovely friend Emily, I’m including Eminem’s Business.  Although she hates music like this, I heard it last week in the car, immediately thought of her, started bawling and almost had to pull over. I know. It’s not a sad song. But she’ll understand.

This has been a Twisted Mixed Tape Tuesday production, Einsteined by Jean Kehl. Come, join us and tell us what your favorite music is from this millennium. It’s fun!

What about you? What music from the last 12 1/2 years do you love?


by Kristi Campbell

email a friend

  • Janine Huldie - Amy Winehouse seriously was awesome (damn shame what she did to herself) and loved that you included the birth of Tucker. That picture was so adorable and you already know that I had Emma right around the same time, so the decade ended on the right foot for us, too!! 🙂August 6, 2013 – 11:48 amReplyCancel

  • Linda Roy - That’s exactly it Kristi – you nailed it. It was like everything had already been invented. (Except for the dreaded auto tune of course and that was invented in the 80s just in time ot save Madonna but now is being used perversely IMHO). I love your picks and the pic of Tucker as a little smugglet is adorable.August 6, 2013 – 12:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Kerri - Everything has been invented…except when we are in the nursing home we will be telling Tucker and Boo to stop giving us the finger when we explain that in our day we had to carry a phone in our hand and dial it ourselves.August 6, 2013 – 12:26 pmReplyCancel

  • clark - Godsmack! is there even a bad track anywhere (on their first ‘record’)!

    loved the photo of Tucker (do I need to make reference to the distance that the seed of certain deciduous trees manage to jump to?)

    (hey at least you have a rational rationale behind your choices and sequence of songs…I’m beginning to hear feedback on my juxtaposition of gospel music…country rock and Avenged Sevenfold…lol)

    I enjoy reading your Posts.

    lolAugust 6, 2013 – 12:28 pmReplyCancel

  • Considerer - Bless Tucker’s little grumpy face (have you seen the latest viral vid going round? The ‘Bitchy Resting Face’ – there has to be a baby equiv for that pic! Adorbs) And, THANKS for the earworm – hilarious coupling that with painted airplanes (I prefer the song in Hungarian though, for shits and giggles)

    First brush with the Avett Brothers, and am LOVING this song. It’s awesome.

    (and P.S. – ya don’t gotta invent stuff to count, ya gotta inspire – and you do that by the truckload)August 6, 2013 – 12:29 pmReplyCancel

  • Quick Stepp- Melissa - Avett Brothers! Great googly moogly are they freaking amazing! If you ever get the chance to see them live GO! Do not hesitate, just GO! So, so good. My fave of theirs is The Greatest Sum (acoustic). Such an awesome love song.August 6, 2013 – 12:54 pmReplyCancel

  • Kevin Dickson - Speaking of inventions, didn’t you do the early market research for my “personal grooming device”? You interviewed people on the street and got their opinions, and even helped find the right name.

    Did you know that it is now the largest selling device of it’s kind? BTW I sold the royalty so I could get Carla a nice engagement ring. D’oh!August 6, 2013 – 12:55 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - I lasted for one second of that airplane song – how do you listen to that crap? Ever notice how so many of today’s songs have snippets of old songs in them? Because most of the good stuff has already been written.August 6, 2013 – 1:12 pmReplyCancel

  • K - I love that about the world…just when we think that everything that we could ever conceive of has already been invented, something else is created, and suddenly we wonder how we ever lived life without that in our lives…

    I feel that way about Banana Nutella cupcakes…I was out with friends the other day, and just when I thought I had already discovered my favorite foods, I tried a Banana Nutella cupcake. I don’t know how I functioned before these cupcakes entered my life.

    P.S. That picture of Tucker is priceless! OMG he is too cute. And I love his little sneaker slippers!August 6, 2013 – 1:26 pmReplyCancel

  • Darla @ Moms World - OMG! We’re practically musical soulmates! I love all of the songs you chose! How exciting!! And OMG your son is adorable and OMG I love your blog. OMG OMG OMG! HAHAHAAugust 6, 2013 – 2:15 pmReplyCancel

  • Kate - Earworm- never heard that term before but it is perfect for those songs. Love it!August 6, 2013 – 2:51 pmReplyCancel

  • Deb @ Urban Moo Cow - I had Amy Winehouse on my list, too! Loved her. So sad she effed herself up so much.

    And that photo of Tucker is sooooooooooooooooooooo cute. You can see his little boy face waiting to come out. 🙂August 6, 2013 – 4:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Oh geez. Why did I click on the airplane one? You set me up! I guess that was paypack for me tweeting you the video. LOL! Love Tucker’s bald head. And the sentence following you and Steve Jobs. LOL!! I got my husband to upgrade to iPhone 5 last week. I didn’t tell him how soon iPhone 6 would be out. I want us to be stuck with the same phone at the same time. Isn’t that mean? LOL! LOVE my iPhone though 😉 12 1/2 years is hard to narrow down what I really love. I just checked, top played in my iTunes library is Forget You by Cee Lo Green. What?! Well it is fun to listen to. You gotta check out the lyrics. And if I’m not mistaken the explicit version has the real f-word in it. I bought radio version. P.S. This is a song on my workout playlist.August 6, 2013 – 5:53 pmReplyCancel

  • JenKehl - what the heck did you do to my name LOL! It’s like I’ve stepped into a parallel universe! First of all, I dated the TWIN of one of the Avett Bros, so much so that I could not stop staring or even concentrate on the music. Because he BROKE my heart that ass!
    Also, Amy Winehouse. Idiot. I can’t put her music in a mix because I refuse to support her idiotic decisions. That’s my opinion of course. But having two friends die from heroin overdoses who were both GENIUSES, well. She should have GONE TO REHAB LIKE HER SONG SAID! Sorry, I’m yelling.
    Did I tell you how much I like this post? How true about everything being invented already. That is how I felt too, and then I found something and loved it!
    Also, totally showing Isaiah the painted planes! I’ll let you know what he thinks!August 6, 2013 – 7:39 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Janine,
    It really is sad about Amy Winehouse. Really really sad. Sigh.
    —
    Linda,
    The word smuglett is my new favorite.
    —
    Kerri,
    HAHA to Tucker and Boo giving us the finger when we’re in our nursing home! Ha! I love it!
    —
    Clark,
    You called me rational. You’re my new favorite.
    —August 6, 2013 – 7:46 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Considerer, (and Clark)
    Aw! You’re the sweetest. Never mind, Clark. Lizzi is my favorite now. Her comment was way better. Plus, I’m still trying to figure out what deciduous trees have to do with anything. Do please tell. Oh and I’m so glad you’re loving the Avett Brothers. That’s one of my alltime favorite songs. Ever.
    —
    Quick Step,
    Yes, I will see them (I hope). An IRL friend got to see them this past year at Red Rocks. I’ll bet that was amazing.
    —
    Kevin,
    Are you serious that that nose hair clipper is the best-selling in the market and you sold the royalties? OMG. And hey – confused. I thought that Mark’s dad’s company owned it?? That market research might have been an even shittier job than driving drunk people around at 2am for Dan Dan (which was actually fun in a way except when he wanted me to drive a wedding the next day at 9am).
    —
    Dana,
    You have to persevere and keep listening. Pretty soon, you’ll love it. Maybe.
    —
    K,
    Banana Nutella cupcakes??? I have not lived yet. Must. Find. Some. And thanks, I loved those little slippers too. He had them in a bunch of colors.
    —August 6, 2013 – 7:54 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Darla,
    OMG OMG OMG. you are adorable.
    —
    Kate,
    Earworm is perfect. Can’t remember where I heard it first but even the word itself is, in fact, an earworm.
    —
    Deb,
    I love Amy. Too bad she never cleaned up her act. Sigh.
    —
    Kenya,
    HAHA that you didn’t tell your husband that iPhone 6 is coming. I am the same exact way and think it’s hilarious that we both don’t want ours to be ahead of us when it comes to their phone version. And yeah, total payback – I can’t believe you clicked on it, either! HA. I don’t know that song Forget You. I’ll have to check it out!
    —August 6, 2013 – 7:59 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Jen,
    Whatever do you mean about your name? Hey I’ll bet Isaiah will LOVE (or hate) the gummy bear song! Let me know. And sorry to hear about the meanie who broke your heart 🙁
    What an asshole.
    —August 6, 2013 – 8:01 pmReplyCancel

  • Considerer - *squeee!* (never been someone’s favourite before)

    Sorry Clark :pAugust 6, 2013 – 8:07 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Oh and Clark,
    Lizzi should be your fav as well because I was hung up on “manages to jump to” and didn’t get that you were fancying up the good old apple analogy. (thanks, Lizzi)August 6, 2013 – 8:11 pmReplyCancel

  • clark - ‘acorn never falls far from the tree’…oak tree…deciduous…a clark trying to be clever? lolAugust 6, 2013 – 8:31 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Clark,
    You ARE clever. You just forget that often times, I am not.
    —August 6, 2013 – 8:33 pmReplyCancel

  • Dream - Awesome list! I don’t really appreciate Amy Winehouse the way some people do, but I do love some particular songs like the one you listed. Its kinda a whole retro-ish (not really sure what to call it) genre with others like Caro Emerald, Gin Wigmore, and Clary Browne & the Banging Rackettes that I’ve been getting into.August 6, 2013 – 8:45 pmReplyCancel

  • Considerer - Any time. I’ll help a fellow ‘not clever at times’ type out when I can 🙂August 6, 2013 – 9:03 pmReplyCancel

  • Rachel - How you take these silly little memes and turn them into perfection is pure genius. I love the span of the ages, from your grandfather, to you as a child, to Tucker! Beautiful. And Steve Jobs. That was a LOL! Brilliant! I really checked out of music at this point. I’m with you on that. Hell, yeah, Def Leppard!August 6, 2013 – 10:02 pmReplyCancel

  • Lance - I miss Amy Winehouse. She’s truly one of a kind and in about 10 years we’ll be talking about her like we do Janis Joplin.

    Clarence Darrow – Attorney For The Damned….that’s just great. You wanna cowrite the screenplay or television show treatment for that rejection letter? It’s too good to work.August 6, 2013 – 10:31 pmReplyCancel

  • Slu - Hey Yo… Enjoyed yet again. You always leave me with a smile.

    Thanks, SluAugust 7, 2013 – 12:47 amReplyCancel

  • Tamara - I used to worry that all of the good ideas had already been thought – for books, music and movies. Now I realize there are still fresh and innovative ideas – I guess there’s not really a limit? I don’t know much of the music on this post. I’m lame. Can we still hang out in blog world, anyway??August 7, 2013 – 9:24 amReplyCancel

  • Shanique - Anybody who listens to Eminem and Amy Winehouse is fricking AWESOME… Tucker looks so cute/pissed 🙂August 7, 2013 – 10:26 amReplyCancel

  • Tracy@CrazyAsNormal - I heart the Avett Brothers so hard too. Seth’s affair ticked me off, mostly because they will never sing “January Wedding” again. Which they were supposed to play at my parents 50th Wedding anniversary after I won the lottery. I hate you Jennifer Carpenter.August 7, 2013 – 11:41 amReplyCancel

  • Tracy@CrazyAsNormal - Also. I forgot. Your grandfather was an inventor?! That is awesome. I am so about to waste an hour googling the crap out of him. 🙂August 7, 2013 – 11:43 amReplyCancel

  • troy P. - I had no idea that you knew Steve Jobs… =)August 7, 2013 – 4:03 pmReplyCancel

  • Sarah Almond - That has got to be the coolest thing I’ve ever heard. Your dad was an inventor? WOW! I have some ideas for some inventions, you could go in with me and we could take over the world! 😉

    Isn’t that funny when we get in that mindset that everything is as advanced as we think it’s going to be and it can’t get any better than that? I was just thinking how nice it would have been to have Pinterest when my son was little! My how things have changed in the last few years.

    I also love me some Godsmack! I didn’t include any on any of my mixtapes-I know the thought went through my mind. Interestingly enough though,my favorite Godsmack CD has to be The Other Side, which isn’t even listed in their discography on some sites. Have you heard of it? Acoustic versions of several of their hits. LOVE IT.August 7, 2013 – 10:03 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Thank you for including a song for me and yes I do understand! I love that I know I have you supporting me. And I also love that now we have a “song” to bond over. 🙂August 8, 2013 – 1:00 pmReplyCancel

  • Tatum - Mini-Tucker…awww…he’s edible, right?

    So, you know I’m from WI, right. Which is the Kentucky of the north. In other words, I’ve got some deep country music roots. I don’t like pop/cross over stuff. I like real country. And from the 2000’s the absolute best real country is Jamey Johnson. Seriously, give him a listen.

    http://youtu.be/Z_-ZA_yatuAAugust 11, 2013 – 12:13 amReplyCancel

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

*

*

N e v e r   m i s s   a   n e w   p o s t !