Best IM Quote of the Week:

natro: i just got back from dropping off my units at the s.f. airport.

natro: we left at 6:00…

natro: a.m.

natro: did you know there were two 6 o’clocks?

This is so rad. This guy turned his Kenner Millenium Falcon into a PC. I want one!

Hipster Bingo — find the ironic trucker cap, hoodie, white-boy afro, etc.

ASCII Ice Age… and there’s more: Stargate, Superman, Matrix, Crocodile Hunter.

Went to see Tomb Raider last night. I can say in all heterosexual honesty that Angelina is hott. It was a fun adventure flick — not much thinking involved. I like how they make her a bit video-gamey (gamey?) with her movements. The effortless climbing and jumping, etc. Very exciting. The Irish bloke was pretty charming too.

Then I stayed up far too late playing Rise of Nations online with Hans. I just loaded it yesterday, so I hadn’t had a chance to mess around with it at all. Luckily it is quite like Age of Myth in most control aspects. It’s cool and everything, but I just think that with it being a race to the final ages, you don’t get to experience much of the early ones. Whoever can manage to get to the gunpowder age the quickest has a clear advantage.

A mere 55-ish hours until Erin comes to visit. Woohoo. I have a feeling we’ll be spending a lot of time at Wal-Mart.

Song for the Day:

A Call to Arms – James Horner: Glory Soundtrack

I’ve been meaning to watch this movie again. It’s one of my favourites.

Public Service Announcement

For everyone who has been hitting my site looking for The Reindeer Section tabs (tablatures, guitar chords) for “You Are My Joy”, they can be found here. Great song, but I’m not a guitar player.

I can’t remember the name of this girl that works at Starbucks, but she’s seen me a lot lately. She also knows my plight with the impending doom of the toffee bars. This morning I just ordered my coffee, and she said “no toffee bar?” I hadn’t seen any in the pastry case, so I asked if she had any. She went back to look and came back with a little bag. I paid and left. When I got to work, I noticed that she had put two toffee bars in my little bag. She rocks!

You’re the United Nations!

Most people think you’re ineffective, but you are trying to completely save the world from itself, so there’s always going to be a long way to go.  You’re always the one trying to get friends to talk to each other, enemies to talk to each other, anyone who can to just talk instead of beating each other about the head and torso.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, and you get very schizophrenic as a result.  But your heart is in the right place, and sometimes also in New York.
Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

That’s My Michael

“I am speechless about the idea of putting music fans in jail for downloading music. It is wrong to illegally download, but the answer cannot be jail,” Jackson said in response to legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Here in America we create new opportunities out of adversity, not punitive laws and we should look to new technologies, like Apple’s new Music Store for solutions. This way innovation continues to be the hallmark of America. It is the fans that drive the success of the music business; I wish this would not be forgotten.”

I took this personality test to discover that I am a traditionalist.

Okay.

Song for the Day:

Lost – Cinema Recorded Music Library (Real Audio)

I’ve been humming that little melody line for three days now. Maybe this will make it stop.

Normally I don’t pay much attention to spam… just delete, delete, delete, delete.

However, today one stood out. It was for one of those phoney diploma places. You know what I’m talking about:

▪ There are no required tests, classes, books, or interviews!

▪ Get a Bachelors, Masters, MBA, and Doctorate (PhD) diploma!

▪ Receive the benefits and admiration that comes with a diploma!

▪ No one is turned down!

What killed me was the subject:

“prove you when to college [sic]”

*sigh*

LOTR Wallpapers for anybody else who could use a 1024×768 shot of Viggo.

Fun with Peripheral Vision

This picture is not animated.

Random Ebay Item:

Scary Clown with Bubbling Brain Lavalamp

Hero Machine: Make your own hero.

~I need a hero

I’m holding out for a hero till the end of the night

he’s gotta be strong and he’s gotta be fast

and gotta be fresh from the fight~

HORSE: the band… just when you thought you’ve heard it all… they call their genre “nintendocore”. It’s pretty hilarious.

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

This is disturbing. I was pretty sure that legwarmers are one of the top four fashion trends that should not be allowed to recur.

Hard Corps

My cousin and his two friends were staying with me since Thursday night. We went to Demos’ when they got to town… mmm! And I showed them the Parthenon, though the lights were off due to wedding photographs being taken.

Last night we went to the DCI event in Murfreesboro. It was incredible. No ordinary marching band, that’s for sure. Plus it was just fun being there with those guys because they are all drumline dudes, so their enthusiasm was contagious.

And yes, if you were going past a gas station last night and saw people playing frisbee in the parking lot… they were with me.

Singed a Bit, Were We?

This is a funny little game. Toboggan Run. You have to push a toboggan with enough force to get it down a ramp and through a flaming hoop without missing or setting the people on fire. Pretty cute… and the commentary is hilarious!

The Rules of Men I should show Karl the rule number one about not cutting hair, because he keeps telling me that we need to get hair appointments together and get our hair chopped off.

It’s the Audio Memory game by Notwist. It’s like the childhood game without the little cards to turn over.

Song for the Day:

One with the Freaks – Notwist

~Miss the signal

Miss the signpost

Lose the access to it all

And all of a sudden

You are one with the freaks~

He has done it again. Dan has donated his time and talent to create another beautiful site: Magnolia Glen. It is simply beautiful… or is that beautifully simple? He has an incredible gift for piecing together the perfect sounds with the perfect imagery that creates the perfect mood. (See roadside above.) He doesn’t even need to do it for a living, though I’m sure his phone would be ringing off the hook if he would. The little Flash presents he gives are like a homemade birthday card from Van Gogh — a small piece of a master’s work created just for one.

TGIF

If you need something to help distract you today, might I suggest this site. He has online NES, SEGA, & Arcade game simulators. Nice!

Friday Five

1. If your life were a movie, what would the title be?

Redheads Have More Fun

2. What songs would be on the soundtrack?

“Life is a Highway” – Tom Cochrane

“Rhythm is a Dancer” – Snap!

“Cherubs” – Arab Strap (watch)

3. Would it be a live-action film or animated? Why?

Well, I was envisioning live-action… but now that you mention it… animated might be nice too.

4. Casting: who would play you, members of your family, friends, etc?

I know a lot of theatre folk, so we could just play ourselves. Ooo… make it more of a documentary… or mockumentary. That would be better.

5. Describe the movie preview/trailer.

Pan across a crowd of blondes… with me in the middle. Then flash a series of shots depicting some of the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Three cheers for Leslie as she enters the world of blogging.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Last night I had to stop at the bossman’s house to pick up something after work. As I was backing out of the driveway with my windows down, his four-year-old daughter came running down the front steps and yelled to me, “Miss Danielle, where are you going now?”

“I’m going to a concert tonight,” I replied.

With hands at her mouth to better amplify, she yelled, “You look pretty enough to go to a concert!”

Aww!

Flem

Connie went with me to see Fleming & John. She had just gotten back from Europe the night before, so I felt it was my duty to help her readjust to the central time zone. What I didn’t realize was that F&J; were originally signed to the label that her ex-husband owned at that time. Midway through the show, she asked me what I thought was so appealing about them. I could only say that it has to be because Fleming is so enchanting, and John compliments her so well. We got to speak to Fleming briefly after the show. I was awed. She is absolutely gorgeous. She said their way-the-heck-too-long awaited third album should be finished in August, though they are without a label at the moment. Woohoo! New Flem!

UglyCouch.com… I’ve seen some ugly couches in my day, but wow… some of these take “ugly” to a whole new level.

The Star Wars Alphabet Project… every nerfherder knows about the X-wing fighter… but how many people know about the P-wing, the M-wing, or the mysterious G-wing fighters?

And if I love anything as much as Star Wars, it would have to be Mullets. (or not) The Mullet Bandit. Some people and their spare time… crazy.

Radio Quote

Yesterday on the NPR I heard this quote… “More women attempt suicide, but more men succeed… because women tend to use pills, while men tend to use guns.” Yeah, I can see that. (And on that note, Gunslinger: a cartoon.)

Guess this person can cross off a couple more aces.

I just had a stand off with a giant blue and black butterfly. I’m sure it would have been hilarious to watch as a bystander. I just hate how they’re so schizo… they dart too much. You’d be proud of how relatively calm I remained. I didn’t have to drop to the ground and cover my head or anything. There may have been a little flailing of arms and some tense screams, but other than that, I think I did good.

I may be quiet for a while… today will be busy because I’m doing an airport run later, then my cousin is arriving tomorrow, so tonight may involve house-straightening and grocery shopping instead of seeing Fleming & John like I had hoped.

Songs for the Day

Don’t Let it Fade Away – Fleming & John

The song that made me cry for the longest time.

~Don’t let it fade away

Be strong enough to tell me goodbye

Don’t let it fade away

Just because you don’t want to see me cry

If it’s over now, I’ll be okay

Just don’t let it fade away~

and…

Sadder Day – Fleming & John

A sad song that makes you feel so good anyway.

~You like to eat your grits with butter salt and sugar

you drink your coffee instant and black

I always loved the fact but thought that it was so peculiar

how you carried everything you owned in the back seat

of your 1983 canary yellow Z

you had a unique collection of fast food bags

and all the post-it notes with quotes stuck to your dashboard

reminding you life’s not so bad~

Oh that’s it. I have to go to the show. I’ll hate myself forever if I don’t. I owe it to everyone I was on the road with, since that was our soundcheck music every single day.

This is so worth the download. You’ve never seen ping pong like this. Do-it-yourself bullet time.

Send your name to a comet. Why? I dont’ know either, but apparently you can put your name on a list that will be encoded on some computer chip in a module that is being sent to burrow into a comet. You can even print out a little certificate. Yeah, you just know the pranksters have a hayday with things like this. Considering there are already five Darth Vaders, five Luke Skywalkers, one Anakin, six Britney Spears, and four Homer J. Simpsons .

Double Take

Matthew JC – Lame rocker guy voted off FOX’s Paradise Hotel show or whatever.

John Travolta

Talk amongst yourselves.

Song for the Day

I’m Just a Little Black Rain Cloud – Winnie the Pooh

~I’m just a little black rain cloud

Hovering under the honey tree

Only a little black rain cloud

Pay no attention to me

Everyone knows that a rain cloud

Doesn’t eat honey, no not a nip

I’m just floating around

Over the ground

Wondering where I will drip.~

Disclaimer

I know I’m completely lame for caring about this so much…

Starbucks Emergency

After noticing a disturbing lack of Toffee Almond bars in the pastry cases at the various Starbucks around here lately, I finally spoke up about it last night only to find that my greatest fears are coming to fruition. How could they discontinue such a culinary delight? They are a party for your tastebuds. Tragic.

So I’m enacting Danielle’s Save the Toffee Campaign. You can feel free to leave your thoughts on a virtual starbucks comment card right here. Together we can bring back the Toffee. Even if you don’t care, you could go there and simply type : “We want our toffee bars back.” or “ho, ho, hey, hey… the toffee almond bars need to stay.”

Fit for a Queen

I drive by two big fields of Queen Anne’s Lace on my way to work every day. There is also an abundance in the lot by the backyard. I’ve often heard about Queen Anne’s Lace Jelly, but until I’ve heard exactly what sort of flavour it has, I’d be very hesitant to go through the trouble. (On the other hand, maybe it is not QAL, but rather hemlock… in which case, I’d be poisoning myself anyway.)

On that note, when’s the last time you thought about Sherlock Hemlock?

Oh Mother!

I am exhausted!

I don’t know how moms do it!

I think I have finally gotten to a point where the idea of having children of my own someday doesn’t scare me to death. And I think my only assurance right now is that most people don’t get more than one at a time, so you learn to adapt as more come along.

Tonight, in the grip of some momentary insanity, I asked my three favourite youngsters to go with me to see this children’s concert in Nashville. Ages 3, 6, & 9… they were so dear. But man! I am absolutely worn out now. Between keeping them all corralled and constantly asking the three-year-old if he “needed to pee-pee” and trying to be the chill babysitter, not the freaking-out-madwoman… I am ready for bed now.

On la Casa

So I’m trying to read The Gunslinger for this book club of sorts that we have going. This afternoon I went to a nice little quiet Mexican restaurant in Cool Springs hoping to have a little time alone to read and nibble on chips. It was 2:00, and the place was nearly empty. The waitors doted on me… making sure everything was always topped off. One came by and asked how everything was and then asked my name.

“Danielle.”

“Danielle. Ahhhh… Daniella,” he said with a wink. “You are very pretty.”

Later as I was packing up my books and things, the same gentleman came by and picked up my ticket and walked off. I went up to the counter to pay, and he said that he had taken care of it. I argued. He insisted and asked that I come again soon. I just might.

On the (Coffee)House

Deciding I would be more likely to keep reading if I didn’t go home, I went to Starbucks to see if they had any comfy chairs open. Indeed. They happened to be in the middle of a huge drive-thru rush, but I said that I was in no hurry at all. The manager said mine was free because I had to wait so long. I argued. He insisted. And I sat and read for two and a half hours.

Why are some people left-handed? Did I ever mention my inexplicable attraction to lefties? Maybe it all comes down to the hand thing… I dont’ know. But there’s just something about them. Hmm.. Famous Southpaws.

Anyway… I need to run.

Song for the Day:

Love Fool – The Cardigans

Heard this on the way home for the first time in a long time.

What’s Going on Here

I just used the phrase “no sweat” in response to someone. Weird.

Unusual IM Quote for Yesterday

“mmmm….we were both commenting on the things that made you so desirable……with a focus on the mysterious aura you have… you were almost like a fairy or something…….. a siren, a dryad, a nymph.”

Who knew?

Death Becomes Her

I’m not an extremely morbid person, so I wouldn’t say that I have a fixation with death. I don’t know how to describe it. Anyway, I found this blog completely fascinating: Autopsy Report. This medical examiner shares his findings.

In his words:

As a biology major, I am very much interested in what makes the body work. I don’t really see the “blood and guts” as being gory or grotesque. I view the organs in much the same way a mechanic would view the parts of a car. They are necessary to make the body run, but there can be problems if one of the parts does not work correctly. A surgeon is like a human mechanic who fixes these broken parts. A pathologist is kind of like the guy who sees why the body stopped working all together. Then there are the organ donor networks who utilize the scrap parts so that another body can be fixed. It seems kind of insensitive to reduce the human body down to nothing but a collection of parts working together, but it is an effective way to practice medicine.

Your Heart is Red

What Color is Your Heart?

I think it might be about time to change the music here… with Dan’s help, of course. I’m finding the perfect collection for a little summer love. No requests… these are mine.

Last night I caught a little bit of a nice program called The Six Wives of Henry VIII. It was really quite fascinating… but I have always had a thing for british history. Catch part two next Wednesday night. (Yes, I missed Indigenous.)

I was reminded of the power of the written word yesterday too. I was so pleased to find an actual letter in my mailbox. Naten had even IM’d me last week to say that he was sending some stickers, but I had completely forgotten. It was so nice to have a letter to read, even though we had emailed about most of the contents before it had arrived. Who cares. I’m determined to bring back the art of letter writing.

One of the Top 17 Funniest Things Ever

Star Wars: The Musical. Do yourself a huge favor and download these tracks for a good laugh. It is amazingly well done… it embodies every element of quality musical theatre. And you know Jesus Christ Superstar and Jekyll & Hyde started out as concept albums… who knows, maybe Star Wars could be headed to broadway. Maybe.

And on that note, Are you a jedi knight or a unicorn? Erm, no.

Post Script

And yesterday I came up with a couple of nice rebuttals that I was going to write on this giant white magnet that would have stuck nicely to the back of my car… “I’m sorry for parking in front of your decorative pile of branches.” and “I need to learn how to park… but where?”. However, with a wave of better judgement, I decided that being cheeky about the whole thing would probably just target me for legitimate parking violations that would eventually lead to my car being towed. So for now I sit back letting them think they have the upper hand. This parking war has been going on for over a year… and I won’t go down so easily.

My Fingers Fell Off

Well, it was more like they broke off… and it wasn’t my fingers so much as my fingernails. I knew this day was coming. We have lots of filing cabinets in my office… one of which is in my office. The not-so-fun thing about them is that they don’t let you open more than one drawer at a time. So yesterday, I got finished with something at my desk, pushed off the wall and rolled over to the cabinet. (Did I mention that I love my rolly-chair and the hardwood floors?) I was attempting the pull out the drawer in front of me, not realizing that the top drawer, which was at head-height since I was seated, was not quite pushed in all the way. I pulled the drawer with gusto and completely, and I mean completely, tore off three and a half nails.

So now I feel like an amputee. Fingernails, like, say tweezers, make it easier for me to grab things, scratch things, pick up things, get at things. I’m not used to using the bulky pads of my fingertips to function.

< /rant>

Arg!

In other news, please do consider marking your calendars, because September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Parking Police

I just have to laugh about this. I went to my car this morning to find a note scribbled on a piece of loose-leaf college-ruled paper tucked under my windshield wiper. It read: “You need to learn how to park.” And then went on to explain that I was not parked on “community property”. Part of me feels a little bad, because I knew I wasn’t parking where I ought, but I figured it was only going to be for nine hours… sue me.

The part of me that doesn’t feel bad would have had some choice words for this Community Communist… something along the lines of “If you would put some more *&$@#$ parking in the community, I wouldn’t be forced to get creative when the other idiots don’t park between the lines that would have allowed me to fit in there.”

I really want to get some magnetic letters to write “I need to learn how to park” on the back of my car. I hate that place. If I didn’t like my room and my landlords so much, I would have moved out of that community from hell a long time ago.

Song for the Day:

Wake Up in New York – Craig Armstrong (featuring Evan Dando)

~I’ll meet you in New York

By the drugstore on First Avenue

And then we will lie down

With the buildings all around

I want to say this to you~

If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium

And that means tomorrow night Indigenous is playing downtown. I think they are so beautiful, and their music is incredible. Not bad for a little blues band from South Dakota.

(And incidentally, I am just waiting for the DVD to come out to purchase that movie.)

Come Out, Come Out… Wherever You Are

Your fairy is called Oak Goblinwand

She is a bringer of riches and wealth

She lives in forests of oak and lime trees

She is only seen when the seer holds a four-leafed clover

Find your magic fairy’s name.

(Little did they know that I actually have a four-leafed clover.)

I’m Just a Girl

More on the female producer topic that has become of great interest to me in the last week or so… apparently I missed it, but All Things Considered did a show on just that topic: Women Music Producers: Why Female Producers are a Rare Breed. I don’t know… I think it could be really interesting. I think I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I “grow up”, so maybe we could incorporate this into 4TH PLANET.

Song for the Day:

Govinda – Kula Shaker

NO!

Starbucks Convo

Sara(h): (perplexed as she is making my coffee) Do you work today?

Me: Yeah… I’m so beyond late; I just gave up trying to get there on time today.

I’m Sure This Meant Something at One Time

Have you ever come across something and tried to figure out why in the world you still have it? Some slip of paper or piece of stone or something that stood for something whose significance now escapes you?

I was just going through some books I had in a box. Inside the cover of one of them, there was a small paper bag folded carefully in thirds. Inside there was a receipt for guitar picks and several business cards from Denton, Texas. I don’t even remember having been in Denton, Texas… but I did remember the slogan on one of the business cards:

The only difference between tattooed people and non-tattooed people is…

…Tattooed people don’t care if you’re not tattooed.

Welcome to your new addiction.

Goodwill Hunting

I decided last night that I am going to kill two of my oft-plotted-never-executed plans with one stone.



Plan #1. Get out of the Metro area to find some Goodwills that have not been picked over by the rockstars in town.

Plan #2. Take a drive down the Natchez Trace.

Combo Plan of Joy. Drive down the Natchez and find some Goodwills.

(Okay, according to the Goodwill Locator, there are only Goodwills in Columbia and Lawrenceburg, unless I want to go all the way to Jackson, MS. It’s better than nothing, I suppose.)

Song for the Day

Do Not – John Reuben

~Do not tell me what I can and cannot do when I rock.~

The way something was phrased reminded me of that child singing that one silly line, and I had to get it out of my system.

Surprising Obsession of the Day

I just wasn’t expecting to come across a site by someone who appears to be the world’s biggest Rockapella fan. (yeah, that Rockapella. “She’ll ransack pakistan and run a scam in scandanavia… tell me, where in the world is Carmen Sandiego”)

Quality Quote from Yesterday

“I’d give anything for a preview right now.”

~ Jessica, upon her discovery that they actually play commercials before movies these days. (For the record, I think that is just sick and wrong as well… and therefore I am boycotting Sprite Remix, Joe Boxers from KMart, and Garnier Fruictisse or whatever.)

I am thrilled to say, however, that I saw Pirates of the Caribbean yesterday. It was an exciting swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. Depp was amazing… and Bloom… well, he’s not hard to look at. (By the way, I’m Diamond-Eyed Danielle, The Brigantine Barbarian… according to the game on the movie’s website.)

Oh, and about the girl producers, the criteria I forgot to add was that the woman could not also be known as a musician… as I would never be. That knocks out quite a few that we had come up with… but we’ll keep Pauley’s Sylvia in the mix and Thux mentioned Trina Shoemaker.

I would also like to take just a second to mention that I truly hate BellSouth. (I found some kindred spirits.)

What rating is your journal?

Little.Red.Boat: I come across this site every now and then, and it tends to make me smile. I don’t think I have linked to it before though. I just thought this post about how to know if you are in love was especially cute.

Nate told me about this one… watch this strongbad email, and after it is over, wait a while for a brilliant ending. Much laughter ensued.

Yesterday I learned about the importance of guaranteed release clauses. I heard and liked an album that one of our clients just recorded that might not be released. It’s quite unfortunate. It’s crazy to watch these big labels try to strong-arm these kids who are just chasing their dreams.

This morning I also asked Karl if he knew of any female producers. I didn’t even need a name… just wanted to know if there was one. He couldn’t say for sure, but he said it is definitely a male-dominated field. I think I might ask someone if I can do an apprenticeship under him in my spare time — what spare time? Hmm. Well, when Karl finishes the studio at his house, he said I can engineer projects over there. Now I just need to find a band who wants to record.

Friday Five

1. Do you remember your first best friend? Who was it?

I think it was probably Lisa. Our mothers were (and still are, I guess) good friends. I was devastated when they moved to Virginia when I was about 8 or 9.

2. Are you still in touch with this person?

We’ve been out of contact for about a year for no real good reason. I still know what is happening in her life through my mom… but I really need to make an effort. I was in her wedding. Now she is having a baby. I must write.

3. Do you have a current close friend?

Not close in proximity, but close at heart, yes. I have a couple.

4. How did you become friends with this person?

Well, with Manda, we met, liked each other, hated each other, and reconciled all before I’d say we became friends. And, for the record, I never hated her… I just thought she was being a whiny wench (and she admits her attitude wasn’t the best at that time). And I don’t think she really hated me, but she just thought I didn’t like her. (she was right.) I’m not sure when the breakthrough happened… sometime after I moved to Indy. We found out that we had fun together… when I made her have fun. (Wait, she was the one standing on the table and singing in the restaurant on St. Patrick’s Day.)

With Tash, it was all about a band, wasn’t it? Then it didn’t hurt that she was the Down Under promoter, and I was putting together their travel itinerary. I think the rest, as they say, is history.

5. Is there a friend from your past that you wish you were still in contact with? Why?

Hmm… there was one person who made my life exciting when there wasn’t much else going on. This person helped make me a better person. I am wiser, because my eyes were opened. I am more well-rounded, because my ears were opened. I am smarter, because my mind was opened. I am more caring and patient, because my heart was opened. I believe that some people are around only for a season, for that is all that is required. Lives go on, but that is just as it should be.

Song for the Day:

Little Girl Blue – Nina Simone

~No use old girl

You might as well surrender

‘Cause your hopes are getting slender and slender

Why won’t somebody send a tender blue boy

To cheer up little girl blue~

Trip Highlights: Day 4 (Sunday)

▪ Church with the fam — caught up with people afterwards.

▪ Lunch at Grandmas. My last time in that house, as she will have moved by the time I get home next.

▪ Over to Sis’s house for haircut and low-lights.

▪ Hung the decorations I made for my mom’s kitchen since she is afraid to put holes in walls.

▪ Naten over after supper for Invader Zim and Tony Hawk 4.

Dammmm(p)

For the record, this is the second day in a row that I have had all the windows (including the sunroof) fully open on my car when the heavens opened drenching the inside. Yeah, we’re going to need some fabreeze.

(And sorry to hear about your near death by cheerios experience, Erin!)

Show last night was great. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

But first… does anyone know what the odds are that a 9-week old kitten, who never goes outside and may or may not have had its shots yet, has rabies? Sparky got me pretty good last night, drawing a little blood. It still hurts a little today, but that could be from the peroxide treatment I did this morning.

So last night. Good.

First opener. The Connotations. I have seen these guys more often than any other band in Nashville. Not kidding. Am I a fan? Not really — though I must say that they have improved immensely in recent months. No, somehow they seem to open for everybody… and I mean everybody. I have to give them props for getting themselves out there like that. I even enjoyed it quite a bit this time. My only complaint was that one new song (which I liked) had the same chord progression as Heart and Soul (you know, that annoying song that every human being can play on the piano) — and I was just aching for the keyboard player to throw that melody in there during the big breakdown at the end. But it never came. Left me feeling empty.

Second opener. The Kick. Pretty entertaining, I must say. Bonus points for being from Orlando (though Manda would never go see them anyway) and for keeping the energy level on 10 the entire time. Someone needs to take up a collection to get those boys a spittoon though. The bass player had a couple spits that came dangerously close to where we were sitting.

Mike was incredible. Seriously. We were trying to figure out how to describe it exactly without much success, but “pure” and “carefree” were words that kept coming out. The comaraderie between Mike, Andrew, and Jason was really fun to watch. Michael had a sort of Dave-Matthews-esque who-cares-if-we’re-having-fun sort of attitude. That’s all I can really say. Go see if you ever have the opportunity.

Song for the Day:

English Interpreter of English – LS Underground (featuring Mike Knott)

Trip Highlights: Day 3 (Saturday)

▪ Bakery for lunch with Mom, Sis, & the Kids

▪ Little bit o’ shopping at the mall.

▪ Went through boxes of our old childhood books, etc.

▪ Pizza Ranch for dinner

▪ Went through more boxes of stuff from college/highschool.

▪ Had bonfire with old lovenotes and junk

▪ Nate came over, and we made s’mores

▪ Walked to the motocross track and watched a little while from the fence while being eatten alive by mosquitos.