Changes

I have come to the realization that I'm no longer cool.

To be 100% truthful, I've come to the realization that I've never been cool. I've been doing a damn fine job of lying to myself for quite some time. Denial is fun, fun, fun!

Anyway, a combination of factors have contributed to a recent change in my diet:

• Cynical Dad Day will be no fun this year as I'm one day from turning 40.
  
  
• They took my sports radio away.
  
  
• I recently completed an 800-mile trip in a car borrowed from my father-in-law (long story) where the only disc in the glovebox was an Elvis Gospel CD.

Somewhere in the mountains of Virginia, a song came on the radio. Normally, I would've immediately changed the channel. But the pickings were slim, so I listened to the song. Really listened to it, for the very first time.

It was Lady Gaga's Paparazzi.

I listened.

And I liked it.

I became a Lady Gaga fan. Not just Lady GaGa, either. As the trip wore on, I found more Top 40 songs that I liked. But GaGa stuck with me. When I got home, I downloaded the album. Watched and enjoyed her performance with Elton John at the Grammys. Watched some of her music videos.

And I came to the following conclusion: Lady GaGa is the last rock star on the planet.

Don't get me wrong. Despite my newfound love of Top 40, there are still plenty of songs I won't listen to. Taylor Swift still sucks. So does that lameass Fireflies song.

And if you refer to the police as po-po, I'm switching the channel.