6.30.2005

BB at Large

Got a gig or something goin' on for the next four nights.
Thought I'd give you a shot at getting in on some of this action.
*wink*

TONIGHT, 6/30: 7:30 at the French Quarter. The Roundabouts and I are playing Jack Scott's Writer's Night. Just me and the band for about 45 minutes. Whoohoooo! THEN... I'm going around the corner to the 5 Spot to see BMT play on the Roots Rock show.

TOMORROW, 7/1: 10:30ish at Cocktails Lounge. I'm sitting-in with The Jonn Hamlin Ramblin Band.

SATURDAY, 7/2: 7:30 at 3rd & Lindsley. I'm going to see Pat Buchanan and Jedd Hughes with an incredible band (Greg Morrow, Tom Bukovac, Allison Prestwood). Excellent.

SUNDAY, 7/3: 8:00 p.m. at the Bluebird. Danny Torrell and JC are backing me up on my third appearance on the club's Sunday Night Writer's Night. Barbara Cloyd is the featured hit writer. AND, my friend Karleen Watt is also playing that night. She on the verge of becoming a hit writer herself. Very good stuff.

MONDAY, 7/4: I don't plan to do anything... well... except wish I was in the Florida Key's with my honey and BMT. **tears**

6.29.2005

Self-heating latte

Wow. This is quite a concept. I'm drinking one of the french vanilla lattes right now. Bought a four-pack at Kroger last night for $5.99.

It's really cool how they work.

First, you turn them over, pull off the protective thingy and push in on a button. Then you let it sit for 5 - 10 seconds, turn it over and watch the heat indicator turn from pink to white in about 6 - 8 minutes.
And, it really gets hot.
Which is very cool.
**wink**
Very yummy.
No it ain't Bongo Java, but it will do in a pinch.

6.28.2005

Willie Dylie Show

UPDATE: The show was an experience to say the least. It was amazing to see two songwriting / music pioneers perform in person. While I couldn't understand a thing Bob Dylan was singing... the grooves and his band were incredible. Willie took me back to my high school days... riding around with my older brother in his 1974 Grand Prix with the stereo cranked listening to Willie, Waylon and the boys. And, the Green Cards were EXCELLENT. (Rex: You must check them out. I KNOW you'd love their stuff. Summer will back me up on this!)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Only a three more hours until JTC, Micol, Ricky and I are sitting at Greer Stadium taking in the Green Cards, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan.

Hope it isn't raining.
*fingers crossed*

TP Surprise

We received one of those peach colored notices from the USPS on Saturday telling us we had an insured package waiting for us at the post office. John and I had no idea who would be sending us an insured package. So, full of excitement, curiosity and paranoid thoughts about the unabomber going through my mind, I made a trip to the post office to retrieve it.

I mean... we NEVER get packages.
It was exciting!

I stood in a long line with a dutiful grip on my little peach slip until finally it was my turn at the window. Containing myself was a challenge as I waited for the USPS attendant to go into the back to retrieve it.

"WHAT IS IT?! WHO SENT IT?!" I wanted to scream. (But I didn't... althought that would have been funny in a psyco kind of way.)

Finally, she made her way back to the counter with a brown package the size of a shoe box. There wasn't one inch that wasn't covered in clear packing tape. I knew whatever was inside was pretty precious to warrant such an indestructo method of sealing the goods.

I filled out the required information and threw handed her the little peach slip. As she picked it up, I strained to see the return address.

Tabor, SD was all I could see... but that is all I needed to see. I knew it was from one of our favorite people in the whole world... Ronnie!

The attendant smiled as I snatched accepted the package she was slowly pushing across the counter. In my mind I was trying to think of all the things he could be sending... homemade salsa? authentic Italian red sauce? music of some kind? WHAT?!

I was stumped. Then, I was even more stumped when I picked up the box. It was so light (definitely not salsa or red sauce... drat!).

Believe it or not, I didn't open it right there. Eventhough my skin was jumping with curiousity, I actually contained myself long enough to get home. It was important that John and I open it together since it was for both of us AND from Ronnie.

The five minute trip seemed like an eternity. When I arrived, John and I immediately began working on the industrial strength packaging. Once the outer seal was compromised, we tore it open to discover a Maurice's shoe box and another layer of packing tape.

Finally, we were able to lift the lid to discover the prize.

Inside we found a letter neatly laid atop five rolls of toilet paper.

Yes.

You read correctly: toilet paper.

(How did he know we were out?!)

It was a thank you from our friend for his extended stay with us in Nashville a while back. Don't want to get too much into the personal details, but the letter was hilarious... basically saying he wanted to give us a little something in appreciation for his time in Nashvegas (about four months)... etc and so on.

What a hoot!

TP... of course.

Then, as we looked closer at the toilet paper... JTC said, "Hey... there's money in here."

Sure enough, several bills were wound one-by-one neatly inside of each of the cardboard rolls. There was also a little message written in the form of a quote bubble coming out of the mouth of each bill's "president":
"Spend me."
"Yo - what up?"

You get the picture.

Ronnie knew that if he gave us a check, we wouldn't cash it. We didn't want no stinking money! Having him here was our payment... in fact, we want him to come back.

So, desperate times called for desperate measures. Being the problem solving kind of guy he is, he devised a plan. A shoe box and five rolls of TP later, it all came together.

It is definitely the most thoughtful, creative thank you we'll probably ever get.

So, Ronnie, if you're reading this... THANK YOU.
We'll figure out how to "re-pay" you somehow.
*wink*
(We love you man.)

New song loop

The new song JC and I finished over the weekend keeps playing over and over in my head today.

That's a good sign, right?
*fingers crossed*

6.27.2005

RSS Traffic Report

How cool is THIS?!

News Hunter II

Beat the Press (requires Macromedia's Shockwave to view)

Legit or phish?

I know... I know... you say you hate blog quizes and this is the second one I've posted within 60 seconds.

Deal with it.

This one is worth taking.

Beyond Red v. Blue

Pew did some interesting research on Political Typology.

Where do you fit?

Time flies...

Wow. This weekend went way too fast and I had WAY too much fun.

Friday night, JTC was gigless (whohoo for BB) so we went to Carrabbas in Green Hills for supper. John had the Margherita Pizza and I had the Pollo Rosa Maria. MmmMmmGood.

Afterwards, we traveled down to Leiper's Fork to see Jonell and Clay McClinton (Yes... he's Delbert's son) at Puckett's. Jonell even got me up to sing background on a song. Very cool. The Puckett's setting actually stops time for a while... very intimate and unpretentious. I'd definitely recommend it. It is worth the drive.

Saturday, I picked up our home computer from Media Tech, but didn't even have time to get it plugged back in and reloaded. (I'm still determined to put the "TV pic" on Friday's post.)

Saturday afternoon, John was leaving for a BMT gig at Brackin's in Maryville... and he asked me to tag along. He leaves on Friday for another ten days, so we thought it would be fun to road trip and spend time together.

And, it was.
*big smile*

The gig went GREAT. Micol's two brothers and a few friends showed up at the gig. We had sooooo much fun dancin' and being silly. And, BMT even let me sit in and sing "Chain of Fools." What a riot!

After the gig (4:30 a.m. ET), we stayed overnight in Knoxville at Ricky's parents. Good people. John and I really feel like we've become part of Ricky and Micol's family.

Sunday we woke up at around 9 a.m., visited with the Davis' over coffee for a while and then took off for home around 11:30 or so.

As soon as we got home, JC (a long-time friend of ours who is relocating to Nashville and staying with us while he finds his own place) helped me finish this song I'd been working on since last weekend. I was stuck and JC was just the co-writer I needed. He's an incredible musician who thinks with his fingers. The song is really sad, but I feel pretty good about it. (We'll be performing it Thursday night, so if you can make it out, let me know what you think. I'm always looking for feedback to make the song better!)

Sunday night, rehearsal for Thursday's gig with the entire band. Ooooohhhheeee did it feel good. Can't wait!

After rehearsal (I should have went to bed...) JTC had to go to another rehearsal so JC and I went to Bourbon Street to see Ricky play with Shannon. JC ended up sitting in most of the night, too. Good stuff.

Man... am I tired.
Can't believe it is Monday already.

6.24.2005

BB's Blog - One trip around the sun.

Wow.

As of tomorrow, 6/25, I've been officially rambling online for one year.

Originally, I began blogging for two reasons:
  1. Because I was doing blog research for work and thought I should experience it to really understand it.
  2. And, in the process, I thought it would be a cool way to keep up with our family and friends who are hundreds of miles away in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota.
During BB's Blog's "trip around the sun," I've posted a mishmash of updates, ideas and random thoughts... basically because I thought the only people reading it were people I knew. Slowly, the audience has evolved, but I don't feel compelled to change the randomness of my posts or come up with some brilliant "focused topic" because of it.

It is what it is. While I'm very aware that I'm not the "best" blogger on the planet, I do enjoy it very much and hope to keep getting better at it.

After one year, I like this blog-thing and have no thoughts of stopping.
Hope that's okay with you.

Sooooooo... Thank YOU for visiting BB's Blog.
Stop by and comment often.

Today's continuous loop

Got Cindy Kalmenson's song "Witness" running over and over in my head. It is an incredible song... but kinda depressing.

I need a more upbeat Friday song.

Help.

UPDATE @ NOON: As I drove to drop my 'puter off at my "PC doctor" over lunch, I popped in Spooncat!'s "American Jiggler" album. Now, track two "Breathe in, Breathe out" is funky thumpin' through my head. Ahhhh... Much better Friday song.

Got any other ideas?
I love a good song... and it doesn't take much to get one looping **she points to her head** up there.

Lindsay on Letterman

So... I get home from the weekly NSAI meeting and having supper with my friend LaLa (we went to Rumors Art Bar and Wine Gallery on 12th... yummy) last night at around 11 p.m. Yes, I was tired but needed to wind down a bit before hitting the hay.

I turned on the TV to catch a little Letterman just in time to see him holding up the most recent Ben Folds album... which... as you all know... meant Ben Folds was the musical guest of the night.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, because Lindsay Jamieson, the drummer for Ben Folds, is a friend who I know through work (He works with my company's ad agency. His bio is in the "Who we are" section of the RD&Q site) .

How cool is that?!

Believe it or not, I took a photo of the TV with every intention of posting it here today. (I know... I'm a dork.) Unfortunately, when I went to upload the pic to my 'puter this AM, it decided not to work. If I can get the damn thing fixed today, I'll post the TV pic of Lindsay on Letterman here late tonight or tomorrow.

*fingers crossed*

So, for now, you're just going to have to take my word for it.

The world is small.
I dig that.

6.23.2005

Killer quiz.

Found a link to this on Boing Boing.
Wow.
Twisted.
But I did take the quiz (5 out of 10).
The results said I should "avoid a career in law enforcement or IT recruitment."

Done.

6.22.2005

Present for book lovers.

30% Off at Borders

Gig next Thursday

I've got a gig at the French Quarter Cafe (823 Woodland Street, 227-3100) next Thursday, 6/30, at 7:30 p.m.

The Roundabouts (made up of some of my favorite Nashville musicians: JTC, Steve C, Cat, Melissa, Kiwamu and JC) and I will be playing a full-set of my songs (about 45 minutes). AND... we're recording a live CD of it that night as well.

Tons of fun will be had by all and you won't even be out late on a "school night." Plus, if you're jonesin' for some Louisiana grub, the food is not too bad either.

Please come (and bring all your friends) if you can swing it.
Hope to see you there!

6.21.2005

Question.

What exactly IS a hollaback girl?

John ate a vitamin.

That's right. He ATE it. Chewed it up and swallowed it.

Why am I telling you this, you ask?

Well, because it is my fault. AND, a testament to how much my husband trusts me. (Well... after this... USED to trust me.)

JTC came back from his Chicago trip feeling a little sick. So, as he was getting ready, I took what I thought was a bottle of chewable vitamin C out of the cupboard and set it next to his sink saying, "Here... chew on one of these. They actually taste kinda sweet. A little extra vitamin C will help you kick it."

A little while later, he calmly walked out of the bedroom chewing and grimacing, "I thought you said these tasted sweet."

My clueless response as I stood in the kitchen about to pop a vitamin C into my mouth, "They do. Well, I guess they are more like a sweet-tart. Maybe our taste buds are just different."

I looked at him.
He looked at me.

As I held up my tasty vitamin C disc, I asked, "Did it look like this?"

Puzzled, he said, "No."

Horror came over my face as I realized what I'd done. Instead of placing the vitamin C bottle next to his sink I had inadvertently put the multivitamin bottle next to his sink. The bottles look a lot alike.

Oops.

I went to the bathroom to investigate, and sure enough, that is exactly what I had done.

YUCK. YUCK. YUCK.

I can hardly stomach the taste or smell of those things as a pill. And my husband ATE one. He chewed it. Eeeeewwwwww. I can't even imagine how awful it must have tasted.

Yeah, I know he could have read the label and seen that it wasn't vitamin C. But you have to understand, John hadn't had his coffee yet. He wasn't even awake. It takes him a good 30 - 45 minutes to actually function and feel human in the morning.

He was a sitting duck.

Poor thing.

Hmmmm... wonder what else I could get him to eat?

Got any NEW ideas?

Have you noticed that a good portion of upcoming and current movie releases are remakes of old movies and/or TV shows?

Bewitched
Dukes of Hazzard
Honeymooners
Herbie
The Longest Yard
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Bad News Bears
Pink Panther

I KNOW there are original ideas out there and screenwriters who are writing them. But, I guess the studios have to go where the "guaranteed" money is... right?

And... I'll be the first to admit, the evil plan works. I plan to see "Bewitched."

Pitiful, aren't I?

6.20.2005

Here's to you.

OK... not really a big Rascal Flatts fan. Well, I'm not a fan of the lead singer's voice. (He's very nasally and flat when you see him live. Not into that.)

Regardless, woke up with the song "Here's to you" in my head this morning. Of course I'm hearing the radio friendly, Pro-Tools version.

Whew.

Jay DeMarcus (Dark haired Rascal Flatts band member), Neil Thrasher & Wendell Mobley wrote the song and are great in their own right. If you want to see for yourself, Wendell Mobley is playing the Bluebird at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, 6/28.

6.19.2005

JTC Gets Home TODAY!

WhooHOOhooHOOhoo.
John gets home from his ten day Chi-town BMT adventure.

John's my favorite.
I've missed him.

6.17.2005

Productivity Enhancer

You deserve a break today.

Duh.

One of my cube-mates just asked me if my phone was working because she has no dial tone.

My response, "Did you call IT to let them know?"

I'm so glad it is Friday.

Trip Around the Sun

For a Friday, I'd say this is a pretty good song to have stuck in my head. Although, I'm hearing Big Al's version, not Jimmy & Martina's.

The chorus keeps looping over and over...

I’m just hangin’ on while this old world keeps spinning
And it’s good to know it’s out of my control
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from all this livin’
Is that it wouldn’t change a thing if I let go
...[I'll just]enjoy this ride on my trip around the sun.

6.16.2005

Only 3 days left...

...until JTC gets home from his Chicago tour.
Can't wait.

AND, he's going straight to Centennial Park to play with BMT on the American Artisan Festival before he even comes home on Sunday!

Hope you can all make it out.
I've been told it's a pretty cool event.

Sunday, June 19
American Artisan Festival
Centennial Park
Nashville, Tennessee
BMT Show begins at 2:30pm

Pickin' Wildflowers

For some reason, this Keith Anderson song is stuck in my head this morning. It's a good song but I didn't hear it on the radio or anything... it is just there driving me crazy.

Oh well, better than yesterday's song... Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega: "Da da da dah...da da da dah... da da dah da da da dah...

MS & the Family Wash

Went out to see my friend Melissa Sigler play at the Family Wash last night.

Melissa was on fire with her Louisiana band: Shannon (harp), Bruce Miller (guitar) and Kathy (drums). If you ever get a chance to see her play, go for it. She's swampy and bluesy and has a deep sultry gravely voice that grabs you by the... well... you know. *wink*

I hadn't been to the Family Wash before last night. It was very intimate and the food was great. Betty and I munched on baked Brie served w/cranberry jalapeno relish, honey & toast points. It was sooooo good. Then we ordered the hummus served w/olive & pepper tapenade & warm pita points. Yuhuhuhmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeee. And those items were just from the starter menu. Next time I go I'm going to try an entrée. If they are even half as good as the appetizers, I'll be in heaven.

Perfume paranoia

Hmmmm... I just read vivalalesley's post
about wearing too much perfume and it has me thinking.

How do you know if you're wearing too much perfume?

I'm feeling a little paranoid right now because I've worn the same perfume every day since 1993. And, to tell you the truth, I can't smell it anymore. I know I LOVE it, but my nose has become immune to it.

So, I want to know:
Is my perfume too strong?
Are people walking away from me going, "Geez... did she take a bath in that stuff?"

Let me know.
The last thing I'd ever want to do is be stinky.

6.15.2005

Don't wait...

Do it now.
The time will never be right.
Just make it happen.

Hmmmm... something to think about... tomorrow.

6.14.2005

One of a kind urinals?

*imagine Conan O'Brien is saying this*
What in the world?!
Men... tell me... is this really something you long to have in your bathroom?
I mean... aren't they too pretty to pee in?

Eavesdroper deflector

This is cool.
Cube hackers beware.
Nothing to hear here.
*wink*

The "new" Ronald McDonald

A new animated McDonald's ad by Leo Burnett features a Ronald McDonald who participates in sports and encourages kids to shed their couch potato ways. The spot, designed around McDonald's new active lifestyle menu, made its debut in the U.S. on June 10 and eventually will air worldwide. Adweek (6/7)

I don't care what Mickey D's says, Super Size Me had a profound effect on the company's business model.

6.13.2005

Flaming is stupid.

You know... I really love people for the most part. Yeah... I recognize this isn't how the majority of people feel out there, but I can't help it. Most days being around people just energizes me.

On the other hand, there are people out there who don't know how to be a nice human being.

I hate mean people.

Friday (6/11), some jerk put a negative post on John's site about his nickname "Johnny the Clock."

I didn't see the flaming post in JTC's guestbook until today. Of course, when I saw it, I went into "defend my man" mode and flamed back at the guy on JTC's guestbook.

But, not John.

He saw it yesterday and handled it with class and honesty and not a shred of defensiveness. John's journal post in response to this mystery person reminds me of just one of the reasons why JTC is my favorite person in the entire universe.

He's a rock.
Humble, confident and solid.
(You done good Tom & Gertie.)
Can't imagine a better man.

6.10.2005

BEWARE: Jacko hackers

Hackers have created a Jacko suicide rumor to spread a virus.

So, if you get an e-mail that says Michale Jackson killed himself, DO NOT click the link contained in the e-mail to see the full story. If you do, it will download a malicious virus onto your computer.

Typical

54% of permissioned e-mails aren't making it into our in boxes.

So, basically, AOL, YAHOO, and Google have figured out how to filter legitimate e-mails out of my inbox, but they can't figure out how to reject the hundreds of phishing, "FREE" stuff and "enhancement" e-mails I receive each week.

Great.

JTC is Chicago bound...

Just said goodbye to my honey. He's off to a tour of Chi-town with BMT. Wish I could go, too!

If you're in the Chicago area over the next ten days or know anyone up that-a-way who loves good music, check out a show... and tell 'em BB sent ya'. *wink*

6.08.2005

We are but dust...

A visiting minister offered up a prayer during Sunday morning service.
"Dear Lord," he began with arms extended and a rapturous look on his upturned face, "without you we are but dust..."

He would have continued, but at that moment, one very attentive little girl leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly, "Mommy, WHAT is butt dust?"

Church was pretty much over at that point.

(Not sure if this is a true story... but it sure made me laugh hard.)

Stowaway Tip

Tip #1: Don't hide in the wheel well of a plane.

Ouch. Definitely a Darwin award candidate.

6.07.2005

Hell's Kitchen

Have you seen this show?
Watched the first two episodes back-to-back last night.
Gordon Ramsey makes Simon Cowell look like an angel.

6.06.2005

6.03.2005

Pharyngitis sucks.

My throat hurts sooooo bad. It started feeling funny toward the end of my Memorial Weekend trip. But, after being around my kin for a few days, stubbornness against going to the doctor was accentuated and I decided to try to ignore it until it went away.

Not a good plan.

At around four this morning, I was awoken by the severe pain in my throat every time I tried to swallow. I even got up and spit in the sink to avoid swallowing a couple times... but that was futile.

So, it was inevitable. I couldn't go to work. It was time to bite the bullet and go to the doctor. 30 minutes after arriving for my appointment I knew it wasn't tonsillitis or strep (at least not yet...*fingers crossed*). I've got pharyngitis... sounds kinda scary, but it is really just an extremely infected throat and a low grade fever. I've already taken one round of a parade of prescribed drugs: antibiotics (BTW - they are freeking HUGE... horse pills I say! Not easy to swallow with a swelled up throat), decongestant and cough medicine.

Why do I wait on these things? It's stupid. It wasn't that big of a deal. I've got insurance. If I'd done this on Wednesday when I returned from the North feeling crappy, I wouldn't have missed work and I'd be able to keep my commitments this weekend. Because I put it off, I missed 1/2 day of work on Wednesday and an entire day today, I had to back out of a gig with my friend Jonn tonight, I couldn't go to the BMT gig tonight, I won't be going to the BMT gig tomorrow, I've had to back out of the neighborhood yard sale tomorrow, we'll have to take a raincheck on meeting friends for supper tomorrow night and I won't be able to be the worship assistant at church on Sunday. Instead, I am frantically trying to find a sub at the last minute.

What was I thinking?!

Remind me of this fiasco next time I protest about going to the doctor! PLEASE! Can I BE anymore ridiculous?

6.02.2005

Where have I been?!

As you all know, returning from a trip creates extra work before you leave and when you return. So, as I dig out I thought I'd take time to post a pictorial of my Memorial Day travels.

Short story: I was soooooo great seeing everyone. Family. Friends. The farm and Sioux Falls. Wish I could bring everyone back with me to Nashville.



Had great flights to Omaha. The sky looked so cool that I couldn't resist taking a pic through the plane window... somewhere over Iowa.





Mom and Dad picked me up in Omaha and brought me to my Nebraska home more than three hours away. Man, I sure do love this place.




Soon after 911, my Dad made a flag pole to display the American Flag proudly just in front of the farm house. I couldn't resist taking a nightime shot of it. It's really moving to look at in the silence of a country night... nothin' but the sound of crickets and coyotes to disturb your thoughts.



Spent Thursday night and Friday morning hanging out with the Petersen's: Tony, Brenda, Cassy, AJ, Katie, Jim, Sara, Madisen, Mom and Dad. This is Cass with Jim's little one (8 months old). Can you believe those blue eyes?!





Friday I took off for Sioux Falls in my Mom's convertible Mustang. Rode all the way (two hours) with the top down. It was great.




On the way there, I snapped a pic of one of KELOLAND-TV's live Doppler radars. I have a soft spot in my heart for that station and the community. Good people all around.




Saturday, I sang at my friend Shannan's wedding. She looked stunning and her new husband, Brent, is incredible. I have no doubt that they are going to have a great life together.




Sunday, Denice and I went to church and then had lunch at the Falls. All yummy.




Afterwards, we went back to her place and vegged out on her balcony. Sure is good to see and spend time with my bestest girlfriend. (Love you, Denice.)




Memorial Day was spent with all of the Petersen's. It is so cool to get some hang time with Tony's kids, Katie (7), Cassy (17) and AJ (13). It's hard to believe that they are already so grown up.




Jim was there all day, too. Sara and Madisen came later in the day after spending the weekend in Omaha with Sara's family. Maddie is such a happy baby!



By the time the weekend was over, I'd taken 264 photos. And, I'm sure you're relieved to hear that I don't plan to post all of them!




It was just so good to see everyone... and now I can look at their photos whenever I need a South Dakota or Nebraska fix.

And, after spending quality time at my Nebraska home with my family / friends, it felt good to head back to Nashville. As the plane approached to land, I was able to snap a photo of my Tennessee home from the air. What a great way to end a spectacular trip.