Woohoo

Holy spicy red lentil curry batman! Yum!

I have this theory that learning any new occupation is really only a study in a foreign language, which, luckily I've done a few times.

Excited for Dev and Paul in Kenya!

I am tuckered out. In that nice satisfying way that being tuckered out can be sometimes.

Cheerful new Dev song

Good to Get Out


Traveling mercies as they get out of the house all the way to Kenya! So cool.

Why art is important

Seems in the last few months a debate has been swirling around me about the value of art. First, a conversation with a favorite musician about the value of his work; then that very same week, an article in a local paper about why poetry is important. And, this week, I found this clip of Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglová singing one of the songs that they became known for after the release of the independent film Once in 2007. Hansard and Irglová's song "Falling Slowly" received a 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song and the soundtrack as a whole also received a Grammy nomination. They were the underdogs, but the award couldn't have been given to more deserving folks.

At some point along the way, I heard Hansard comment in an interview that he often "self-medicated with music" - which is something I can relate to. In the opening to this clip, Hansard says, "Ultimately we invest in art because we want to be taken somewhere...or we want to be brought on some kind of ride." I'm not sure I would have phrased it in exactly the same way, but I think he's right on...

Incidentally, I'm not a big fan of most popular music. But, these two, I like. They are about as real as they can be. And, I like that they offer up their music for the listening. On the website for their collaborative musical project, The Swell Season, you can play a whole set of songs, for free. Which is how music should be. Free. Payment to our favorite artists, I think, should be part of a reciprocal exchange: the artist takes you on a ride, and in return, you buy them dinner...or, well... a gift certificate for something they've been dreaming of doing. : )

Sam Scott will be famous one day

I just heard her busking on the Downtown Mall, she received quite a nice reception. She's 11 years old.

Our Seester's Birthday!

I sure am thankful for our seester Susan today. She's the world's coolest Mom, most patient wife, and the best friend.

Also glad for:

New library card!

Wandering the downtown pedestrian mall on a Sunday morning in my favorite town.

Currently reading: Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes.

Curreri - Blame Love/Everybody's Talking

The man's a genius. Back about a year ago, at his CD release party for the Velvet Rut, I heard him do a version of this medley and had this to say about it in an email to a friend (warning -- this is at least a PG-13 post):

Good show overall. I love his long renditions where one song bleeds into another and a tough rockin' tune of "Blame Love" melds into a quiet "Everybody's talking at me, can't hear a word they're saying, only the echos of my mind..." Every time I've heard him roll into that song, no matter which of his own proceeds it, it's always brilliantly lovely.

He's playing his new Gibson guitar and I swear, early in the first set, I'm sitting there thinking, the damn boy is up there masturbating - the neck of the guitar is like his unit, ya know. There's one song in particular where I think he's intentionally put in a riff that mimics the hand motion of jacking off. Seriously. Ballsy, especially with his mother sitting in the front row. (Interestingly, Paul thanks the audience just a few minutes later for not giggling too much while he engages in a little foreplay with his guitar, because, after all, his wife is overseas... I called that one.)

The reader, by now, has probably figured out that I'm a fan of Paul's, although I try to not let that show so much, lest I come across as pitifully cheesy. But, Dude's a genius and I like offering up a little well-deserved support.

Week full of thanks

Guesting at Fry's Spring Beach Club and having snacks and cash in my pool bag.

New song by Keith Morris and the Crooked Numbers. Formal introduction to Tom House.

Supper Club's love-and-support filled 20 questions.

Office bowling is fun for all. Team Yellow Fever arrives in style: homemade t-shirts and Eye of the Tiger on the boombox.

Tennis with Dave!

Down by the river to pray

This is Helen Horal, Mariana Bell, Robin Wynn and Joia Wood at their performance at Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville on April 26, 2008, which I attended and described in this post.

Musical Weekend

Dave and I went to Gravity again last night (that's two nights in a row, and we weren't the only ones) to hear a lovely female foursome play an in-the-round show. We went primarily because Dave is friends with Robin Wynn, and I've been wanting to hear her play live. But, I've been a long-time fan of Joia Wood, who often backs Danny Schmidt. I'd heard Mariana Bell open for Vienna Teng at Gravity in the last year, and knew she was worth hearing again. The fourth, the only one I wasn't familiar with before last night, was Helen Horal who was a pleasant surprise with her earthy vocals.

Not only are these four all uniquely talented in their own right, but they supported each other seamlessly by adding backing vocals to their companions' tunes and ended the evening with two group songs, including an a capella version of "Down by the River to Pray," one of my favorite traditional tunes (which you can often find me singing along to with Alison Krauss on long road trips). If they decided to combine their energies, this foursome would have some serious potential; there were a few magical moments in the night that reminded me of the time that I spent in my much younger life singing with groups of women. There is something very powerful to be found in the convergence of voices in tight harmony, both for the singers and their audience.

I should add that on Friday night we heard the incomparable Danny Schmidt. And, equally impressive were Doug and Telisha Williams, whose bluegrassy string tunes warmed us up for Danny's show.

Click on any of the artists names above to have access to some of their music. Worth the time, for certain.

Long time gone

Spring tulips have already come and gone.

New (I woulda sworn they already had one?) myspace site for City Salvage Records, a little record label that happens to host several of my favorite musicians, and a link to a nice little blog article on Paul Curreri.

Saturday night dinner at The Local - Downtown Belmont is about to boom, that is, if we can't say that it has already. And, Twisted Branch and late-night C&O, a good thing.

Taking the leap and signing up for Horse and Buggy Produce. I'm inspired by my Seester, who tells me that she is the host pick-up site for her CSA in her neighborhood this season! How cool! I'm a little nervous: will it be too much, or not enough? Will I feel too much pressure to cook and not eat out? Will I miss an awesome share-week because my pick-ups are only biweekly? Oh! So many questions!

Successful lease negotiations: one down, one to go. Fingers still crossed.

Must fix the screen on my front door.

Mantra/Master's Voice - P. Curreri

Candyapolis!

Eulalie (a Jesse Winchester song, sung by the lovely Devon Sproule)

10 days to go!

Countdown to Candyapolis!

Also excited about this dang paper. A long work session with helpful Carolyn today, filled with exciting study breaks, that somehow all pertained to food: Bodo's, Ben & Jerry's, Greenberry's and Maya.

Up late. It's cold. The cats are licking the leftover milk from my cereal bowl.

Thinking about getting a Christmas tree this year.

Burrrrr......

Test

You're afraid if you can touch it, you won't want to anymore...

Staying busy, as the time flies by, and keeping interested in work. And, wondering how, but knowing still, I'll get it all done.

6 hours (!) of KOMLR was almost too much, but less because of the music and more because of hunger and achy head. Musical highlights include all of the covers that they did of each other's songs; it just showed what professionals they all are that they each did them so well.

Hearing myself talking about "looking into grad school" in a way that feels more serious than ever before and hearing others say they'd like me to stay.

"Home? Where is home?" Home is here.

Seeing sad eyes in a friend. Feeling heavy hearted about a sister.

The sidewalks rub my feet as I walk by...

That's his Song about that. Or is that his Logic?

Painters start scraping just before 8 a.m. I really hope they're taking tomorrow off, 'cause I'm really looking forward to sleeping in.

84 txt msgs ths mth. Woah. I feel like one of those young'uns!

Is there any way that I could keep from getting knots in my upper back ever again?

Successful day!

I will write you letters...

Still loving that live Frames album (esp the first 3 tracks)...

Loving the feel of crisp 30 degree morning air - can't wait to run in it again! Plans for 10 Miler training in the morning with C and C(?).

A chuckle from D's blog because it demonstrates so well how much there is to learn from people, about taking life easy and having a sense of humor, all the while being quite sincere, and honest.

Finishing up 6th week of chiropractic care, and finally feeling good again - big thanks to Jimmy the massage therapist.

Thankful for the boys.

That's what makes you strong

I'm thinking of Jesse Winchester's little tune... "and if you know you're weak, ... it's a funny thing, but that's what makes you strong..."

Continuing on to Week 4 of the body's meltdown. Reinjuring myself last night, although consensus at the Doctor's office this morning was that it might have happened whether or not I did what I did. At least it's manageable pain this time, but it made sleeping uncomfortable last night and it's starting to take an emotional toll more than anything. Attempts by family to help by phone really just made me feel worse. I hate to say that, but it's true. It's time like these when the distance really takes a toll. For many reasons: they can't do anything. I can't ask them to help. The can't rescue me if I were to, say, quit my job with no notice. Yeah. It's that kind of thing. :)

I did, however, manage to call in my pledge to WVTF (my favorite NPR station) this morning and help them finish off their fall fund drive. They're sending me a coffee mug. You think I should have asked for the Rockmonanoff CD instead? Yeah, I think so. ;) And, an early morning run to pick up the Fancy-and-more-expensive-now cat food for the impatient kitties. Oh, and a sleepy stop by Bodo's too.

Saturday

Vivid memories of our home in Italy - plenty-large rooms, all with sliding glass doors, marble floors, persianas, a lemon tree outside my bedroom, splendid views to Mediterranean sunsets every evening. Tried to find a picture on the internet of our view, with no luck, although I wasn't surprised.

Finding body's energy reserves, even after week full of neck pain, and doctor visits, and teaching a class in Lburg this morning. I run errands, bra-less. To gather my courage to do this, you see, I just pretended that I'm a hippy. No one is the wiser, especially in this town, and especially when your errands involve a stop by the music store and Whole Foods!

Mums for the porch and the friend who saved me when I couldn't move on Wednesday. Hers to be delivered tomorrow before our run, or walk, or whatever we can muster.

Two large-venue shows this week (Lucinda, and Bob Dylan with Elvis Costello) re-convinces me that my favorite venue in town is my favorite because it's the size of my living room. Looking forward to hearing new music there tomorrow night.

Little Kitty helps me write my blog tonight.