9.30.2006

burnt trails and purple fire

Had the whole night to myself last night. A rarity. Didn't feel like talking to anyone or going anywhere or writing a song or working or cleaning (which is probably what I should have done) so I busted out the paints again.

I'm calling the first one "burnt trails". Painted something much warmer and brighter at first... didn't like it. Painted over it. Didn't like that. So then I just brushed everything together to make a dark blank canvas... or so I thought. It looked cool... but wasn't cool enought to be done. So I took the stem of my brush and made the trails of what seemed like light down into the layers of paint underneath. It's cool for now... but I'll probably end up painting over it again.

You can't really see it in the pix, but the background of this one is a deep black purple. As you've probably figured out, I like warm colors, so I squished out some reds, some oranges and some yellows onto the background. Then I took an old butter knife and made the "flames". So, for now, this one is called "purple fire".

Out of the two, it's probably my favorite.

I'm finding out that I kinda like this new found creative release. They're nothing to hang in a gallery, but there is something really freeing about just seeing what will happen. I have my friend Bekka to thank for helping me listen to the urge. Twice in the past year, we've hung out til the wee hours of the morning at her house, painting, talking and just being.

Nice. It's nice to be with me.
At 37, I'm just discovering that.
Wild.

blah blah blah... anyway... hope you like them.
And, if you don't, that's okay, too.

9.25.2006

Jon Coleman, Lee Roy Parnell & Friends TONIGHT

Hey friends!

I know this is short notice, but wanted to make sure you knew about an incredible night of music at 12th & Porter tonight.

8 p.m. Ken Johnson
9 p.m. Jon Coleman, Lee Roy Parnell & friends (that's me, Clocky, Erik & Charles)

It's gonna be a rockin' night.

Hope you can swing it!

UPDATE: The show was a hit. Jon and the guys really had a great time and Lee Roy sat in on two of Jon's songs, "Amy" and "Dog's Life". Then LRP closed out the set with two of his own songs, "Back to the Well" and "Saving Grace". It was awesome. There were tons of great people there, too... Thanks to everyone for coming out.

9.24.2006

Note to self: No running..

at Radnor Lake.

A friend of mine found out the hard way today, that the trails over there are "hiking" trails only.

As she was running along the path she was stopped by a park ranger who gave her a citation, a $200 fine, for running on the path.

Of course, she had no idea that she wasn't supposed to do this... yeah... there are signs but she just didn't stop to read them... it didn't occur to her that running wasn't permitted and she's run there quite a bit over the last two years. She was focused on getting a work out while enjoying the beautiful day.

OOooops.

So, for those of you out there, like her and me, who didn't know this and / or hadn't taken time to read the signs posted...

Note to self: No running at Radnor.

9.21.2006

Vote for World Famous!

Hey friends!

Rachel Williams cut "World Famous" a couple weeks ago (a song Karleen Watt and I wrote) and it kicks ass.

We'd love to get some radio play, so please take a minute to vote for it at this link: http://983thebull.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=116907&article=363773

**fingers crossed**
THANK YOU!

PS: Hope you like it!

Well said Fixin' Supper

The issue of immigration has been debated hotly over the past few weeks, especially here in Nashville where the city council is debating making English the "official" language of the city.

I've been on the fence about where I stand. Both sides make passionate points that keep me there.

Until today.

I just read this post at Fixin' Supper.

It's well written, thoughtful and it really made me think.

Take a read and see what you think.

Help name the baby giraffe!

A new baby giraffe was born at the Great Plains Zoo on 9/16 in Sioux Falls...

YAY!

And, now, they need help naming it.

Give it your best shot.
You've got til 10/15 to come up with the best name!

9.18.2006

12:47 a.m. Sightings

Long story short, the tour bus JTC and the band was riding back to TN in blew a tire yesterday. So, traveling back from gigs in Texas took a little longer than expected and they ended up not getting in until around 1 a.m.

So, at 12:47 a.m., as I traveled to pick Clocky and his gear up at the designated meeting point... I had two interesting sightings.

The first was just as I exited our little culdesac... It was a woman walking very briskly along Edmonson Pike pushing a baby stroller. Curious. What was she doing going for a walk with their baby in the middle of the night? Is it just me, or does that seem a little out of place?

The second interesting sighting was on Highway 100... where there are few street lights and sparsly populated homes. There, I saw a man riding his bike... at first I thought it looked like a small motercycle as he did have a headlight afixed to his ride. But then, as I passed him and realized it was a biker, I started wondering if I was really awake. By this time it was after 1 a.m. Why in the world would someone be riding their bike along a dark highway at that time of night?!

WILD.

9.17.2006

OK Go treadmill video

Wow. Last night... or rather... early this morning I was channel surfing and this video of the song "Here it goes again" by OK Go was on VH1. It's completely choreographed on treadmills. Looks like it had to be shot without any edits... one camera... no stops. Not easy to do... especially when dancing on treadmills! It's amazing and wild. If it hadn't been for the video being so intriguing, I'm not sure I would have listened to the song. Smart.



And... even more smart... the band challenged people to make their own videos of their songs and submit them for a contest. There's even a "rescue the band" game, podcasts, and a blog. Wow. Talk about a great idea... and a way to build loyalty and return visits.

So... because of these great ideas, I now know about the band OK Go.

Hmmmmmmm.
And I just posted about it to tell others about how cool it is, too.

Hmmmm... hmmm.
Innovation.
Creativity.
Not like anything else.

What a novel idea!
It gives me hope.

9.16.2006

Music 4 MusiCares Benefit TONIGHT

Last minute gig addition... and it's REALLY COOL. Shawn Byrne called yesterday to ask me to sing a tune with The Sin City Social Club tonight for the Music 4 MusiCares.

AND... I'm SOOOOO STOKED.

The Sin City Social Club band features some incredible musical cats: Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks), Paul Deakin (The Mavericks), Al Perkins (The Eagles, Emmylou Harris, The Rolling Stones) and Ed Toth (Doobie Brothers, Vertical Horizon)

Several talented established and up-and-coming artists are fronting the songs: Elizabeth Cook, Lauren Lucas, Mondo Sans, Amelia White, Shawn Byrne... and more.

We'll be singing 12 to 15 slammin' rock and soul songs. I'm singin' The Faces "Stay With Me" and I'll probably go on around 9 or 9:30.

The event goes from 5 - 10 tonight. Other rockin' feature artists who will perform earlier in the night include: Shawn Byrne, Todd Bradley, Robin Ball, Lynn Manderson and The Carter Administration.

Here's where it's all goin' down:
Acts Music Hall
3315 Charlotte Avenue
615.292.9192
Suggested donation at the door: $15

Here's the exerpt from the Scene about the event (scroll down the page to read it):
Get Your Acts Together

PS: Don't forget... I'm also playin' Lyrix Cafe with five other great writers tonight from 7 - 9 (yes I'll be haulin' bootay to get over to the other gig after... but it is sooooo worth it!)

UPDATE 09.17.06: I had a BLAST singing last night... at Lyrix and at the MusiCares benefit. "Stay with me" was soooo fun to perform. Thanks to Shawn for inviting me and the band for being so rockin'. Thanks to everyone who came out to support live music!

9.15.2006

The check engine light

...came on in the Element on the way home from my session tonight. So, in my usual fashion (since the dealer was closed) I did a little Googling to find out what could be causing that little orange light to stay on.

On a couple sites, I found out that the check engine light will come on if you don't get the gas cap tight enough on Honda SUVs and the like. (This is Broken's post was my favorite.)

**fingers crossed**

Going out to tighten the gas cap right now... and let's hope that's all that is wrong!

I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE 1:10 AM - It worked!
On my way home from seeing Pat Mclaughlin play at Douglas Corner (the show was smokin' by the way... I highly recommend takin' one in if you get the chance) the light went out.

Yay!

**happy dancing**

9.14.2006

Dinner Set Saturday

Hey friends!

Lookin' for a yummy place to eat on Saturday?
Or, were you thinking it would be fun to take in some music?

Well... you can have your cake and eat it, too (or banana pudding... definitely recommend the banana puddin'). A few friends and I are getting together to perform a dinner set... and... YOU'RE INVITED!

Lyrix Cafe (@ 1st & Peabody)
Saturday, 9/16
7 p.m. Jennifer Marciano, Jeanne Richardson (a.k.a. BB Logan), Rachel Williams
8 p.m. Melissa Sigler, Dawn Leaumont, Jon Nite

Bring a date, bring your mother... your brother and your sistahs, too.

Hope to see you there.
**mwah**

Sam... The Cooking Guy

If you love to cook, but don't have time for recipes that require 12 hours of preparation and 231 ingredients that you can't find at the grocery store... or even if you're a little intimidated by the whole cooking thing... then you have to check out Sam...The Cooking Guy.

He's got recipes, video recipes, a store, classes and he's even syndicated on TV in a few markets, but unfortunately not in Nashvegas...yet.

Oh well... maybe someday.

Anyway... happy cooking.
Let me know if you find any recipes you like!

9.12.2006

My cubicle video

From Yahoo! Video... a parody video of James Blount's song "You're Beautiful".

Instead: My Cubicle.



Hilarious.
Enjoy

9.11.2006

The Red Bandanna

This morning, as I listened to the accounts of the many remembered victim's of 911, one stood out to me. It is this story of Welles' and his red bandanna that affected me deeply.

So, I decided to pass it on to you.

Welles Crowther was an equity trader in the South Tower on September 11. When the attacks on the World Trade Center began, Welles was no longer an equities trader. He became a firefighter.

Months after the attacks, as pieces of his story came together, the events Welles' heroic acts came to light.

Welles Crowther used the last 76 minutes of his life to save the lives of others using a red bandanna (that he always carried) to cover his nose and mouth as protection against smoke and debris.

I can't help but think that Welles Crowther was sent from God. That his life-long desire to help others, to be a public servant was all part of a bigger plan.

Something in me tells me that Welles' was put here on Earth to save those people. He was exactly where God knew and planned for him to be when evil flew into those towers.

According to the news this morning, he'd been wearing that bandanna since he was a kid. Everyone he loved knew it. I didn't know him, but from what I understand, he carried it everywhere. It was his thing.

Maybe now we know why.

If it weren't for that red bandana, the thing that made him stand out from everyone else, the thing that stood out to all those people he rescued, we might never have known of his sacrifice and heroism. We might never have been inspired by his courage and passion to help others. We might not have had more evidence of good on that fateful day.

Welles story reinforced my faith today. It made me think about the big picture and how important it is to pay attention to the gifts and passions God has placed inside me... inside you... inside everyone.

What if Welles had surpressed his instincts and left the building? What if he had done what "he was told"? What if he hadn't been prepared to act?

Where would those 18 people he saved be today? Would Welles be alive while they perished?

I'm just in awe right now, of his story and the story of so many who stepped up for the good of the whole. Talk about lives with purpose and meaning.

While Welles body isn't with us any longer, his soul is very present. His story... reinforces HIS story. We are here to serve each other... to lift each other up for a greater good. I can only pray that I listen, prepare and am ready for my purpose here on Earth.

His family has set up the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust to honor his life and memory.

May this story and the many stories of courage give us strength, hope and faith on this somber day. My prayers are with the Crowther family and all the families of the victims of 911, the heros of 911 and all those affected by the tragedy.

I pray for the people who had so much evil in their heart, too.
They need it most of all.

9.10.2006

Vocation Vacations

I'm reading a book called "No Opportunity Wasted" (It's a really good book BTW.) It basically talks about being who you are and living the life you want. Very inspirational.

Anyway... In it, I just read about this site: VocationVacations.com

At this site, they'll hook you up to test drive your dream job during your vacation from your real job.

What a cool idea!

9.08.2006

Duh Erika

Boogie is playing you.

I had a session last night, so I didn't get to see Janelle's demise, but I must say... I am disappointed in Erika. She's clueless. Maybe I'll find out later that she knew and just thought she had a better chance of winning with Boobie... um... I mean Boogie... by her side.

Seriously... It could happen.

But, I doubt it.

I'm still hoping Erika wins... eventhough at this point, Boobie has probably played a better game.

PS: I'm glad Storm's out. Go TOBY!

crazy painting...

OK... so on Sunday when I was still a little under the weather but tired of sleeping (heh... that's funny)... I decided to paint.

I never paint.

But, am kinda happy with how the pics turned out, so I thought I'd share.

Remember: I'm not a painter.

This is the fourth time I've ever painted... and, I took these pics with my cell phone... so...

Be kind.

Thanks for lettin' me share.

9.06.2006

You know you grew up in Nebraska if...

(Iowa or South Dakota could also apply for some of these... thanks for passing this along Denice!)
  • You don’t have to be told what Aksarben is or that it’s Nebraska spelled backward.
  • You take pride in knowing that on Saturdays, the University of Nebraska football stadium is the third largest city in the state.
  • You lie to other Nebraskans about being from Omaha.
  • Kitty Clover potato chips and Roberts Milk were the best part of the meal.
  • You know how to pronounce Beatrice, Norfolk and Kearney.
  • Back East means Chicago.
  • You know that U.P. isn’t an order.
  • When people talk about a fly-over state, you think they’re talking about the pheasant season.
  • You think pheasants are the most beautiful bird in the world and you wish you could shoot more of them.
  • You’re proud that you have the only unicameral legislature in the country. You wonder what really goes on in those bicameral legislatures, anyway.
  • You know that the statue on the dome of the state capital is actually sowing seed-not bowling.
  • You’re proud that Nebraska isn’t one of those square states like Wyoming or Colorado.
  • You know that “penis of the plains” is an affectionate nickname for the state capital building and not any of the state legislators.
  • You can drive through towns like Wahoo with a straight face.
  • You don’t associate trees with national forests.
  • You miss the hog reports on the radio, even though you never owned any.
  • You don’t have to be told what “knee high by the Fourth of July” refers to.
  • You can’t figure out why Johnny Carson left in the first place.
  • You think Highway 6 is more scenic that I-80, which you think is the best thing to come out of Iowa.
  • You can drive from Grand Island to North Platte without falling asleep.
  • You know that Grand Island has nothing, really, to do with water-except the Platte River, which doesn’t really count.
  • You have signed a petition demanding sainthood for Tom Osborne.
  • You are still surprised when radio stations don’t include polka on the top 40.
  • You can still see the ruts of the Oregon Trail in your backyard and keep promising the wife that you’ll get them fixed.
  • You don’t understand why other states even bother to try raising beef.
  • You believe that the worst steak in Nebraska is still better than any other steak any where.
  • You believe that vegetarians should be banned in Nebraska.
  • The smell of a feedlot is really the smell of money.
  • The smell of an alfalfa plant in full production can bring tears to your eyes.
  • You really believe there is no place like Nebraska. And you are right.

9.04.2006

Got my first cut!

Check it out... Rachel Williams just finished cutting World Famous, a song that Karleen and I wrote last November.

It's posted
here at HerRecords my space if you want to take a listen.

She did a kick-ass job.
Go Rachel!

Guess it's time for me to pick a performing rights organization, huh?!

**dancing**

Crocodile Hunter killed by a stingray

Sad news from Australia this morning.

Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray.
CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous bard on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.

"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.

Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.
>>more from Yahoo News

John and I have watched the Croc Hunter and his wife Terri since the early days on the Animal Planet. His approach to wildlife conservation was passionate while at the same time entertaining.

May his good work continue.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, children and family.

9.03.2006

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzz....

Caught some kind of croupy-cold thing that's been goin' around. Started feelin' a little crappy on Thursday and by the time I got home on Friday I couldn't buck-up anymore. John and I had something to eat and then I went to bed.

I slept 12 hours Friday night and woke up feelin' crappier. Ended up not bein' able to sing with Danny last night. (sorry Dannny) My throat is sore, my head hurts and I feel achy all over.

Went to bed at 9 last night and woke up just a few minutes ago.

That's 24 hours of sleep in 48 hours. Crazy.

Feelin' a little better today... am glad I'll have an extra day to rest up before going back to the cabedge-patch on Tuesday. Hope I haven't gotten anyone else sick.

9.01.2006

Cubicle warfare

Thought this insidious timewaster might help make the Friday work day go faster...

And... maybe even make up for my posting of Zef-doo yesterday.
**sorry**