Under the Covers

1. If I Were a Boy
BC Jean and Beyonce
 It was written by BC Jean and Toby Gad and Deejaycyfer, who also handled its production alongside Beyoncé. Inspired by the difficult break-up of a romantic relationship, the song was initially recorded by Jean, whose record company rejected it. Beyoncé then recorded her own version. Jean was upset when she learned that Beyoncé was releasing it as a single, but eventually they reached an agreement.

2. I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston
 A song written, composed, and originally recorded by  Dolly Parton, the country track was released on June 6, 1974.  "I Will Always Love You" received positive reviews from critics and attained commercial success, twice reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.  With that accomplishment, Parton became the first artist ever to earn a number one record twice with the same song.  It has since become one of the best-selling singles of all time.   Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" re-charted in 2012 after her death, making it the second single ever to reach the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 in separate chart runs.

3. Nothing Compares 2 U
The Family and Sinead O'Connor
 A song originally written and composed by Prince for one of his side projects, The Family. It was later made famous by Irish recording artist Sinéad O'Connor.  This version became a worldwide hit in 1990. A music video, which has been described as iconic, was shot and received heavy rotation on MTV.

4. Me and Bobby McGee
Roger Miller and Janice Joplin
Originally performed by Roger Miller. Others performed the song later, including the Grateful Dead, Kristofferson himself, and Janis Joplin who topped the U.S. singles chart with the song in 1971 after her death, making the song the second posthumous number-one single in U.S. chart history after "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. In the original version of the song, Bobby is a woman.

5. Crazy
Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline
 Partly due to the genre-blending nature of the song, it has been covered by dozens of artists in several genres over the years; nevertheless, the song remains inextricably linked with Cline. Nelson's own version appears on his 1962 debut album ...And Then I Wrote.

6. Torn
Natalie Imbruglia and Ednaswap
 Torn is a song originally by American alternative rock band Ednaswap from their debut album in 1995. It was then covered several times, the most widely known version of the song was recorded by Australian pop singer Natalie Imbruglia in 1997. Imbruglia's version peaked at number one on singles charts in Belgium, Denmark, Canada, Spain and Sweden;

7. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper and Robert Hazard
 This is a song written by and first recorded in 1979 by American musician Robert Hazard. However, it is much better known as a single by American singer Cyndi Lauper, whose version was released in 1983. It was the first major single released by Lauper as a solo artist and her version gained recognition as a feminist anthem and was promoted by a Grammy-winning video. It has been covered on either an album or in live concert by over 30 other artists.

Charger Cord Holder

Olive Oil

Your olive oil is probably fake. Many of us are so used to eating bad olive oils, or simply fake olive oils, that we can’t tell the difference between the good and the bad, and thus we’re not reaping any of the health benefits that fresh, good olive oil can give us.  Being sure you are actually eating this olive oil is a good thing to do. Extra virgin olive oil, the oil gathered from the very first press of olives without the use of high heat or chemical solvents, should not just help something cook or wet a salad; it should add flavor and antioxidents. Unlike wines that age and become better, olive oils should be eaten as freshly as possible.  In fact, both the flavor and the nutrients in olive oil deteriorate over time.  Freshness with olive oil is important, and a cheap but freshly-pressed extra virgin olive oil is better than an expensive one that's been stored for weeks before shipping, only to sit on a store shelf for weeks more. Regardless of where you live, the key is to check the bottle for a harvest date and make sure the oil you're getting is as fresh as possible

Failed EVOO Test		The Good Stuff
Bertolli		California Olive Ranch
Carapelli		Cobram Estate
Colavita		Lucini
Mezzetta		Kirkland Organic
Newman's Own		Trader Joe’s Premium 100% Greek Kalamata Olive Oil

Orchid update

One of my miniature orchids is blooming. Couldn't be more excited! Also the moss on my other miniature is doing well.

Dino Trouble

My dinosaur pal was left behind at the hotel. The least I could do is show him a good time. We ate cookies, got our nails done, went for a dip in the pool, than caused a little chaos in the lobby.