Walking to the beat of my own soundtrack

Soundtracks to movies are fun but a soundtrack to your life is better.

It's kind of like scrapbooking except it's much cooler. Sometimes you hear a song and you think, "oh man, that's about me." Just remember the song is not about you, unless your name is Suzie Q, Mandy or Roxanne.

It's weird how a song or a smell can remind you of something you forgot about or makes you think about something you can't quite put your finger on.

If I could pick a song that reminds me of my childhood it would be "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses. It reminds me of when I was a little kid growing up as the first child of young parents.

"Ballroom Blitz" by Sweet always reminds me of my mom because when I was little she listened to that song on my dad's outdated 1980s stereo system as she did her spandex-inspired workout.

Whenever I hear "Whoomp there it is" by Tag Team, which isn't often, I am reminded of my fourth-grade talent show. I'm not sorry to admit, I rapped the song in the talent show while doing some kind of country music line dance. How embarrassing. I thought I was very cool, and my popularity skyrocketed. I was probably wearing high-top Adidas shoes without the laces too.

"Feelings" by Offspring probably sums up a chunk of my past relationships and makes me laugh at myself. If you've heard the song, you know what I mean and you might laugh too.

Several songs make my mind wander to times when I was a student at Washington State University. When I think about the classes I attended at WSU, it could be summed up by "This is the Worst Day of My Life (Do You Want to Come Over?)" by The Actual. I never really liked school and homework is lame. Sitting for long periods of time in a lecture hall isn't my idea of fun.

My time working at the Columbia Basin Herald could be summed up with "The Distance," by Cake. That song is descriptive of what it's like for any reporter working at any newspaper constantly striving for the great story that will inform people and make them think.

What would your soundtrack be?

Candice Boutilier is the Columbia Basin Herald cities and politics reporter. The newsroom continues to find a song best describing her. Some songs in the running include "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," by Pat Benatar, "I Don't Wanna Stop," by Ozzy Osbourne, and "Killer Queen," by Queen.