I was feeling down about the blog for a while. Especially in Texas. It's hard to get motivated to write something. And this new MySpace layout thing keeps deleting blogs I write as I write them. Yesterday's blog took me 4 tries before it published.
But I'm back. I'm feeling a little more creative, and I'm ready to share some stories.
I played in Berea, Kentucky, on Friday night, in a small cafe called the Black Feather. It was adorable and is apparently the only place open on a Friday night in this sleepy college town. The show was surprisingly well-attended, considering I'd never played there before. There was an attentive audience, full of people who seemed to care about things like live music and culture.
For those of you who have never heard of Berea College, it's a bit of an anomaly in the collegiate system. It is free to attend. Yes, free. It's difficult to get accepted, but if you matriculate, you work in exchange for tuition. The work is hands-on work for the most part, and it seems almost anachronistic.
That is, until you think about this New Depression, and our dire need for sustainable living and to reconnect with the earth.
I had lovely hosts who were kind enough to put up a stranger (and strange) musician for a night, as well as give me a guided tour of the town. Matt was a senior at Berea. His first "work-study" was with the blacksmith. He currently works in the greenhouse, where he grows organic food the school sells to local grocers and restaurants. He and his wife live in the EcoVillage community, where students are allowed -- and encouraged -- to dig up their front yards and grow their own food. There is an orchard where the tiny quad should be and all kinds of student-built huts around the area, all designed for some class project on sustainable building materials.
It amazes me how most people today have no idea where food comes from. It's like the whole Marxian theory of people being alienated from the products they make on the assembly line. We are so focused on our own little worlds that we don't understand the basics of humanity -- earth and each other.
Berea is a beautiful little community. It makes me a little sad that it's a college campus though because people tend to think of it as an idealistic academic society, rather than a viable way of life. If only the city of Louisville could have an endowment like Berea college has ... maybe we could all have solar-powered water heaters and community gardens and nice friendly people sharing carrot seedlings.
Anyway, it was a nice stop on the tour trail.
I am a guerrilla gardener.
Slowly, I am taking over everyone else's yards with my own plants. I am on the move a lot, and you never know when you need an herb or a beefsteak heirloom tomato.
Friend-who-cooks-pancakes and I started 72 seedlings last week, but after my trip to BErea's EcoVillage, I was inspiYes, I'm a front-yard gardener.
I am a guerrilla gardener.
Slowly, I am taking over everyone else's yards with my own plants. I am on the move a lot, and you never know when you need an herb or a beefsteak heirloom tomato.
Friend-who-cooks-pancakes and I started 72 seedlings last week, but after my trip to BErea's EcoVillage, I was inspired to sow directly in the ground. I planted corn, peas, squash, carrots, spinach, nasturtium (you can eat the flowers!), romaine, basil, cilantro, and something else. While I sowed seeds and raked fertile soil, Friend-who-cooks-pancakes made use of his engineering degree whilst solving the erosion problem near the sidewalk. (Ladies, he's single!)
I have also slowly started to take over Friend-with-a-Truck's deck container garden. Thus far, I've got a mint plant and two cacti. We'll see how many herbs and tomatoes I can get away with.
I'm thinking I need herbs and a tomato plant at each of my favorite hangouts. You never know when you're going to crave a caprese salad.red to sow directly in the ground. I planted corn, peas, squash, carrots, spinach, nasturtium (you can eat the flowers!), romaine, basil, cilantro, and something else. While I sowed seeds and raked fertile soil, Friend-who-cooks-pancakes made use of his engineering degree whilst solving the erosion problem near the sidewalk. (Ladies, he's single!)
I have also slowly started to take over Friend-with-a-Truck's deck container garden. Thus far, I've got a mint plant and two cacti. We'll see how many herbs and tomatoes I can get away with.
I'm thinking I need herbs and a tomato plant at each of my favorite hangouts. You never know when you're going to crave a caprese salad.
Sunday Review
It’s been a loooong time since I did a Sunday review. Time on the road, and it seems like Sundays are my long driving days. I’m back in Louisville, just in time to watch the big basketball game this afternoon.
A couple of thoughts. First, the redhead blog. I forgot to mention how many times in my life I have overhead the phrase: “My first wife was a redhead.” Perhaps we cannot be tamed. I also forgot to say how annoyed I am when someone orders a shot called the “Redheaded slut.” Like last night, this dude from Ohio was buying people tequila shots and redheaded sluts. So offensive.
Anyway ... review:
Caitlin: You know, you might be on to something. Louisvillians might be like Australians. We are always traveling, and we talk to strangers. So we meet each other abroad.
Marty : “three person town” . . i like it. I had that experience again during SXSW. I saw a random guy in a Louisville hat, and I had to talk to him. He only had to throw out one name, and we had a match.
Liz: It rained last night, and I considered target bags on my red boots. But I pulled through sans plastic. PLastic bags are bad for the environment, even though they are good for my boots. Of course, my leather boots are bad for the environment, so I guess I”m a little sanctamonious.
Mike: Oh yes, a sports expert. That was hilarious. I’m still bummed that Syracuse lost. I thought my picks were much more interesting than the other “Experts.”
Brian M: Mexico and the Bahamas? Those are places I would love to be camped out right now, looking for fellow Kentuckians.
Rob, Troy, Bard: What can I say? I have a pinch-hitter sometime. I think I might have several guest bloggers this year ... maybe I can get Elvis or Garrison to do one.
Mia: Ha! The sterilization of indie-rockers via skinny jeans. Now that would be an interesting study. Indie-rockers might be a dying breed.
Biggus Mickus: The Towler! When can I come back? I want to bring a band. Does Bury have any good festivals? Man. I really really really want to get back there. Now. I’ll open for myself, then my band will play. We’ll wear mustaches so no one will recognize us.
Rachel: "We don't think you know who you are as an artist because all your songs are not the same." ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Wow. I’ve heard that too. How totally absurd. We should write some completely off-the-wall song sometime. Fun fun fun.
Bard: Yep.. it’s an electric acoustic saw... as in not a chain-saw... but a handsaw ... that plugs in. It’s awesome.
Mia: Still working on that cilantro pesto recipe. I used pine nuts and it was pretty amazing with just garlic, olive oil and clilantro. I think the trick is using a real mortar and pestle and grinding the pesto rather than chopping it.
Roz: Yes. Lynn’s. Bloody. Mary’s. Wow.
Cari: Ha, yes, every time I go to California, I walk around trying to figure out how many of them are high. It seems like everyone has a prescription.
Jim: Ah yes, the Christmas ornaments. He picked them up.
Mia: Bourbon for teething. Duh, who doesn’t do that?
Daniel and Whirllygrrl: What’s your favorita salsa?
Jim Local Long Distance: THanks for making the set list on Friday. Good times.
Sally: THanks for the radio tip -- great station!
Teresa K and Mia: I think there may be something to dying your hair red and suddenly acquiring the “redhead personality.” I keep telling my friend Meredith to go red.
Stacy: Yep. Redheads rule.
Roz: You’re right ... i definitely notice redheads more. We notices each other over here. In Ireland ... not so much.
Bard: I definitely think I’ve become comfortable in my inner quirkiness. ANd out quirkiness too. THanks for lookin’ out for me:)
Karen: The “bottle of color” is terrifying to me. I’ll still to my henna conditioner for now ... when it starts greying, I may change my mind. Or I”ll go Emmylou style and just be the silver-haired accordionista.
Tom: Thanks. You are sweet.
Wayne: VEGEMITE!!!! Aaaaaack! Where can I get that here? Totally disgusting. But not quite as disgusting as boxed macaroni. Can you please book a tour for me and Peter so we can reunite the Fearsome Four?
Bard: Nope, I recycled the box. And ate its contents. But noe the paper warpping around the “cheese” powder. I recycled that too.
Trees: It’s easiest to argue when you’re always right.
Mia: If you’ve got a good cannoli recipe, pleeeeeease share!
I'm on the road again. Last night I was in Berea. Another blog about that to follow. But right now I'm hanging in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Tangent: I once got into a really big argument with my college roommate's boyfriend about the location of Fort Knox. I don't really like to argue, although I can be antagonistic at times. The only time I really argue is when I know that I am right. Otherwise, I'll just leave it until another time, or whip out the iPhone and find out. But in college, my roommate's boyfriend tried to tell me that Fort Knox was in Tennessee. Knowing that Fort Knox is just outside my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, I argued with him. We got into a yelling match because he thought he knew everything, and I would not relent on this particular topic. Finally -- days later -- I convinced him he was thinking about Knoxville, Tennessee, and that Ft. Knox was, indeed, in Kentucky. That was an extremely frustrating few days for me. Anyway....)
This is my first visit to Knoxville, and I'm not really doing much. I'm in a small cafe called "Coffee & Chocolate" because with a name like that, why wouldn't I go inside? I'm having neither coffee nor chocolate, however. A soy chai latte and the yummiest cannoli I've had since Mellilo's closed down.
I'm back to traveling solo this weekend. I haven't done this in a long time. It's typically one of my favorite things in the world ... choosing to stop, choosing not to stop, choosing to pull over at a roadside historical marker, choosing to eat a cannoli. I like to just input my destination on Jane, my trusty GPS, and hit the road.
Something's a little off this time though. I keep seeing things that make me laugh, and I want to point them out to my slew of traveling companions. A week in Austin with some of the best company ever had me laughing so hard, I think I sneezed chips-n-salsa multiple times. I'm a little annoyed that I wish I'd brought a band with me.
Then, of course, I remember the time the drummer was sneaking a cigarette in the van, and he tossed it out the back window, and it came back in through the front window, and it landed right in my armpit because I was lying down sleeping, and I had a cigarette burn in my armpit. Maybe traveling solo isn't so bad.
My dad makes the best macaroni and cheese on the planet. That is a fact. If you haven't been to one of our Thanksgivings or other family meal, then you have not yet tasted the best macaroni and cheese ever to exist. Sorry.
I didn't taste boxed macaroni and cheese until I was in college. One of my friends had a hot plate, and we thought it would be fun to cook something. She had a box of macaroni and cheese. I was opposed to it, but curious.
It was gross.
But then I started thinking that it didn't actually taste horrible. The problem was that I was comparing it to my dad's divine recipe. Maybe it's like comparing soy milk to whole milk. The trick is to remember it's not supposed to taste like whole milk; it's something entirely different. Once I started thinking about Boxed Macaroni as something different, it didn't taste so bad. I still never craved it though.
Except one predictable time: the moment a migraine breaks. When I've fought fever and cold multiple times, tied a cold compress around my forehead, vomited, banged my head against a wall, and thrashed the pillows all around ... when it finally subsides ... I only want to eat one thing: boxed macaroni and cheese.
It's the weirdest thing. I feel mildly guilty about it too. But I just about devoured an entire box. Gross. Yum.
A friend of mine was in a play recently, and she played the part of the "quirky girlfriend." The director asked her to dye her hair red for the role.
I, of course, was offended. Not just because of this particular request, but because it seems like in all things show business, the part of the "quirky girlfriend" is portrayed by a redhead. Watch a movie, and you'll notice this too. If it's not the quirky girlfriend, then it's the sultry vixen, evil mistress, or the psycho, who struts around with big red hair.
I first noticed this sometime in middle school, when that Brooke Shields TV show, Suddenly Susan, was on the air Wasn't it Kathi Griffin who played Brooke's BFF? And she was insane, quirky, AND slutty? Admittedly, she was really funny as a character, but she would have been equally funny as a blonde or brunette. I also saw 27 Dresses recently (I was nursing a sick friend back to health with bad movies and matzoh ball soup) and the slutty, quirky BFF, was a redhead.
Of course, the wacky characters are always redheads, but then again, so are a lot of strong, independent passionate characters in literature and Hollywood. There's Jo March in Little Women and the Weasleys in Harry Potter. When Renee Zellweger in Down with Love turns from meak to strong, she dyes her hair red. There's always Princess Fiona from Shrek and Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
And of course, Queen Elizabeth I, in real life.
I wonder where this stereotype came from? And I wonder if I sometimes follow it because it's true or because it's very annoying to have all such traits blamed on my hair color.
Since I turned 30, however, my red hair has begun to fade a little. It burns brightly golden red in the sunlight, but sometimes in the dark, it looks almost brown .with blonde highlights The idea of being a brunette makes my stomach turn.
I mean no pains to my brunette friends, but being a redhead is so much a part of my identity that having someone tell me I have brown hair makes me want to punch them.
Maybe I should just punch them. Then they would see, obviously, since my temper is as such, I am most certainly a natural redhead.
I'm playing Berea and Knoxville this weekend. Do any of you know people there? I don't think I know a single person in either of those cities.
I'm thinking of moving onward from Berea on Friday and staying the night in Gatlinburg. I've never been to Gatlinburg before, nor have I ever had any desire to go. My classmates in elementray school used to go on family trips there, and someone once told me it was romantic. Sounds horrible to me.
But kitschy, perhaps? I could be up for that.
This week I'm looking for tourist advice between Berea and Knoxville ... someone, please, guide my tour. Know of a big ball of twine? A recreation of Mount Rushmore? THe world's largets loom?
Berea: Black Feather Cafe. Friday 8:00
Knoxville: Preservation Pub: Saturday: 10:00
See you there? OR maybe your friends? Meet me for coffee? Or for loom visitation?
Maybe I"ll just stay in my hotel room and watch Twilight.
One of my favorite things about NCAA Basketball March Madness is when the bracket match-ups offer a game like: Tennessee vs. Ohio State. Rather than considering the basketball team, I like to imagine it a partial civil war. Who would win if it were truly all of Tennessee facing all of Ohio? I mean, Ohio's got a lot of huge cities and its people are responsible for presidential elections, but Tennesseans are just crazy. Then again, most people in Nashville are transplants, and thus don't have much allegiance to their state. Ohio just may win on plain patriotism.
In college, my friends and I set up our own brackets and tried to determine who would win a bracket-style championship of all 50 states.
It came down to the final two: Texas versus .... Kentucky.
It's obvious how Texas made it so far. They are loud, and they are even louder about their Texas pride. We all know about Texas and it's fancy six flags and its ability to to secede if it wants to and how it used to be its own country and blah blah blah we're-so-great-we're-from-Texas.
But few people know about the vicious pride that native -- and even transplants -- Kentuckians have.
And that's why I think that Kentucky could be that Cinderella state that sneaks in and destroys New York (they're all transplants and they're all focused on themselves ... KY would roll over Manhattanites easily in a battle), flattens Montana (sure they've got the Unibomber, but they're totally outnumbered), and annihilates California (they're all high). Kentucky would just roll to the Final Four, sail to the Final Two, and everyone would wonder how they hell they ended up facing Texas.
Thus is the question though. Would Texas be so confident in its victory that Kentucky's pride and insanity (a large percentage of my friends have some form of Kentucky tattoo) takes them by surprise? Or would they be so upset that we had the gall to challenge them that they just destroyed us?
I think it would be a mighty battle. I'm going to concede that Texas would eventually win, but only because they need simply offer up some chips-n-salsa on the battlegrounds and we'd be toast. (My loyalty is easily purchased with the right kind of tortilla chips.) We could offer them bourbon, but I don't think they could handle it. Them's fightin' words, I know ... but hey, my blog comments have been minimal lately ... time to pick a fight!
Anyway, my NCAA final four is: Louisville, Memphis, North Carolina, Syracuse. With Louisville winning, obviously.
I go through phases in my life where I stop eating eggs. Then I remember that cookies have eggs. Occasionally, I'll enjoy vegan cookies, which are delicious, but sometimes I just want classic chocolate chip.
Which brings me to eggs. I don't really like the idea of eating eggs. It's gross to me, but lately, I've been on an egg-eating kick. I was on one of these egg-eating kicks whilst in Texas.
Luckily.
I've had breakfast burritos before. Lynn's Paradise Cafe has a killer one, when I feel like spending the $10+ on a breakfast entree (which becomes $30 easily when you add on a couple of their over-the-top Bloody Marys). But I never really crave the breakfast burrito, not like I crave French Toast on Challah Bread or a fried egg sandwich.
But I don't think a day passed in Austin this past week where I did wake up absolutely mad for a breakfast taco.
Day One, Chaffeur and I headed out in search of a cool little coffeeshop to relax. We found the perfect one, Summermoon on South 1st St, and ordered a potato & egg breakfast taco. Alas! They were out of potato & egg, and the only one left was cilantro pesto & egg. We said we'd share it.
It was phenomenal. Cilantro pesto! Not basil pesto, which is also amazing, but cilantro. Delicate in flavor, it was the perfect complement to the moist scrambled eggs and flour tortilla. We added a bit of salsa and decided at that moment to return to Summermoon every day that week for more cilantro pesto.
We pretty much did, although we were only successful in procuring the cilantro variety three times. But I ate a breakfast taco/burrito everyday. And I can't stop. I want every meal to be a taco.
I arrived back in Louisville at 2 am. I skipped breakfast this morning, so upset was I at the prospect of oatmeal or a bagel. At 10 am, I went to Whole Foods and purchased various ingredients to make my own cilantro pesto. I'm on the quest for the perfect recipe. I will share.
Warning: This might turn into a series of blogs about Austin restaurants. I'm kind of obssessed with restaurants.
I made business cards with me and my saw because I got tired of explaining to people that, yes, it truly is a regular handsaw. The visual is both seductive and informative.
Last night I saw Bob Schneider play at the Saxon Pub. He did a beautiful solo set, using one of those fancy loop-recording-things so he could play the guitar and piano at the same time. I'd never seen live him before. Wait, that's not entirely true. I saw him perform one song on CBS This Morning (before it was The Early Show) in 1999 when I was an entertainment segment production intern. He did a live in-studio, and I was responsible for making sure the musicians made it from the green room to the stage.
The show at the Saxon last night was much better. He played three shows yesterday at three different venues (so it goes at SXSW) -- at outdoor amphitheatre thing at 6:00, a solo intimate show at 8:00, and a full-band entertainment extravaganze at 10:00.
I saw the 8:00 show, and by the 10:00 show at Threadgill's, he'd invited me to play musical saw on a tune.
I also love Austin because when I showed up with my saw, the sound engineer didn't flinch or question me. He just set up a Shure-57 mic and left room for a chair, like you always should when there is a saw-player. I was so impressed that I didn't have the heart to tell him my saw is electric these days. I'll save that for another time.
Anyway, Bob Schneider's Threadgill's show was a fun, crowd-pleaser, with lots of hippie-dancing, and hip-grinding, and a surprising amount of rap tunes. Night and day from the acoustic songwriter set at the Saxon.
It makes me think I should start opening for myself at my shows. You know, I could do a set with just me and the piano with some serious tunes, then my next set would be a cabaret-honky-tonk crowd-pleaser. Should I come up with an alter-ego? Like Chris Gaines? Or just be myself, like Bob Schneider does, and do like ten different shows, and you never know which one you're going to get.
Okay, I'm exhausted from a week of SXSW, and I'm not feeling creative. More clarity next week. Apologies in advance for skipping tomorrow's blog.
Hello, faithful readers. I hope you enjoyed your time with guest-blogger Aaron. He's a good fellow.
I've been ridiculous swamped with activities here at SXSW, and I talked Aaron into a late-night blog last night. (Thank you.) Much has happened, and I could tell you some exciting things. But first: my own commentary on Skinny Jeans.
The interesting thing about the skinny jeans is that they aren't just skinny ... they are actually girls' jeans. These indie-rock hipsters are size fours (or three in Juniors), and they can't possibly be comfortable in the Texas sun.
And they definitely don't look good. I mean, I know it's not about looking good, but it seems they are going out of their way to try to look good. They definitely have the money. Then again, perhaps they spent all their money on those fancy guitars and pedals. I can't really fault them for that. I have definitely spent more money on musical equipment during my life than I have on clothes.
I know a few guys back in Louisville who went through a girl-jeans phase. They were both a perfect size 8. (Barf!) They really were convinced they looked good. That's the thing though: musicians can pretty much get away with anything.
But, yes, Aaron, you bring up an excellent point about the skinny jeans.
Okay, I promise to get back to better blogging habits when I get home. I'll edit and have a point.
I'm going to apologize in advance for possibly missing Sunday. It's a long thousand-mile trek back to Louisville.
Current mood:animated
Hi, it's Aaron, guest blogging for Brigid.
We spent the day walking around Austin, TX at South By South West, or SXSW if your cool, or "South By" if your "in".
It's great being in the 80 degree weather and it's great being around all of this great music. There is something for everyone. And there are Skinny Jeans.
I'm terrified by this bit o' fashion. And there are thousands of skinny jean, vest, hat clad 20 and 30 something's running around. I just don't get it. They cannot be comfortable, and I can't imagine being in them for the 12 hour days that can be had around here. Swampy.
Maybe this is the mystery of 30. I see my youth in this new style. The parts of the 80's that are in there are kinda cool. The Vans are awesome, I'm happy to have them back. But where did the skinny jeans come from? It's a style i just can't get down with.
Ah me.
Check in tomorrow when we will force Brigid to do her own little blog.
If you're traveling around the world and you meet someone from Louisville, ask him/her if he/she knows me. S/he likely will. And it's not because I'm relatively well-known musician around town. Actually, your new Louisville acquaintance probably won't even know that I'm a musician; s/he probably went to high school with my mom or my mom's friend's niece. Louisville's that kind of place.
I ran into some neighbors while randoming visiting a small west coast town in Ireland.
I ran into someone I went to 1st grade with in London.
This morning, I had a breakfast burrito with a friend I hadn't seen since high school graduation. It was really fun, and I'm glad we got to hang out. Louisvillians are much like Texans in that there is an instant bond and much to talk about.
The big music shows start today in Austin, and I'm now wondering about all the people from Louisville I might see. You, perhaps?
I'm wearing my fancy boots out tonight, so who knows what will happen.
I think most people don't admit this, but I'm just going to say it. I am not interested in most of the bands playing officially at SXSW. Most of them I haven't heard of, and upon inspection, I just don't get it. Does this make me old?
Last year the buzz on the street at SXSW was about this weird all-girl band from Denmark or some other Scandinavian country. I saw them, and I wasn't impressed. I was bored, actually, and left early to go see Buddy Miller instead.
Of course, I was also the only one on 6th Street with a wide-brimmed cowgirl hat because, well, I promised my dermatologist that I would start acting like a redhead who cares about her skin. The hipsters all smirked or said, "Nice hat." I really didn't care. In fact, I'm a little annoyed with myself that I forgot that particular hat this year. My floppy wide-brimmed green hat with flowers will have to do.
Anyway, I'm not really concerned with the music for this year's SXSW. I'm mostly excited to hang out with all of my industry friends from around the country, all of whom are converging in Austin this week. It'll be radio folks from New Jersey, attorneys from Nashville, promoters from LA, and even some friends in Louisville whom I don't see on a regular basis. I'm ready for the madness to begin.
I played that gospel brunch on Sunday morning, but I've been on vacation since then. It's been a beautiful thing, not knowing where I am, being driven around by a former local and driving by the lake with the ragtop down so my hair can blow (girlies on standby, wavin' just to say "hi", did you stop? no i just drove by.... sorry, Vanilla Ice tangent, i couldn't help myself.) Anyway, the convertible in 88 degree weather with only two lonely clouds in the sky and nowhere to be has bee great.
Tomorrow: Music Industry camp time! And I'll go hear your Prog-Electronica-all-girl-German band if you want me to, but if I don't like it, I'm not going to pretend like I get it. Sometimes I feel like they're just tricking us.
Despite the fact that I'm technically down here for work, I have elected to treat it like a vacation. Thus, all nachos are fat-free and margaritas are equivalent to water.
My chaffeur and I arrived on Saturday night after driving 1040 miles directly with only three stops for gas/restrooms/stretches. Our last stop was Texarkana, and we then busted straight on for six hours until reaching Chez Lyzz.
Lyzz is my college roommate and lifetime BFF. You may remember her from the short-lived reality show called Manhunt or perhaps as the foozeball player at the fake costume party in Legally Blonde. She's in Scotland this week, working on a Top Secret Investigation. I am housesitting. Luckily, said housesitting gig coincides with SXSW. My timing is impeccable.
Yesterday morning after waking up in Austin, Chaffeur and I went on a hunt for a coffee shop. We settled at a place called SummerMoon where I'd been once or twice before. Immediately, the craving for TexMex overcame me, and we ordered breakfast tacos. Cilantro Pesto = perfect. From now on, everything I make needs cilantro pesto.
Since it was still early, I popped over to visit my friend Wendy Colonna, also a rockin' chick singer. I stayed long enough to watch her chicken lay an egg and hear the rooster cockadoodle-doo.
Then ... it was off to Maria's Taco Express. And all this before 11:00! Gotta love a good time change.
Guy Forysth is one of my favorite performers ever, and it was a really fun gospel brunch show. Yes, I know you're thinking: wow, Brigid singing gosepel tunes? Never fear, folks, I was just the accordion player. I did throw in some backup vocals here and there. The fun part of this gig was playing with a clarinet and a trumpet player and acting like we were the big horn section of a Large Band, only the much dorkier verson.
I also played musical saw whie Guy sang "Summertime," which I found odd because Guy is the only other professional musical saw player I know. Another blog about Guy to follow someday -- someday when I get him to get his ass up to Louisville for a show.
I love Austin because you don't have to wait until 1:00 on a Sunday to enjoy a margarita. And every single place you go gives you chips-n-salsa.
For example, Polvos restaurant, where there is such a thing as a Mexican Martini, a bizarre drink that cuts out the overly-sweet qualities of your classic margarita completely. Olive juice is the key, and I highly recommend it.
Aside from a quick popover to one SXSW event and the actual gig I played yesterday afternoon, all day felt like vacation. I saw several good friends from Austin, and I met many new ones.
Today's been a long day already, and I'm completely into the concept of the siesta. I'll play catch-up in tomorrow's blog and see where we are. First, a quick nap because then I'm going to a honky tonk.
Sorry if this is reading more like a travel journal than a clever blog entry. But, hey, it's what I'm doing lately.
adios! brigid
My Pi Day was spent on the road, but when I arrived in Texas ... there was PIE awaiting me. A Derby Pie™, homemade by my BFF in Austin, for whom I am housesitting.
I want to blog about my fun day in Austin, but today is review day. I'm about to head back out for some more Austin fun anyway. You'll have to come back tomorrow for chips-n-salsa and Taco Cabana and Mexican Martinis and gospel brunch updates.
Karen -- Yep, skipping school and just about everything else (excepting bill collectors and health care premiums) is awesome about being a grownup. Thanks for the CMT link. I remember you telling me about that friend of yours.
Alex -- I saw it three times in the theaters. Maybe four. I'm okay with that.
Kenny -- That's an excellent fact. But is that another lie?
KellyG -- Austin on Sunday! I'm behind in my blog reading and MySpace messages from all my traveling. Have I missed you?
Mia -- I need to come visit you in Vegas sometime. I think we'd have some fun.
Marty -- I actually kinda felt bad for Syracuse when Louisville beat them last night because that UCONN game was so killer. But not too bad. And seriously, the Creation Museum is amazing. I went about two years ago. Frightening, but totally entertaining. Like a bad horror film.
Liz -- I didn't even have a Shiner. I got Taco Cabana and crashed early. That's another story. Hmmmmmm.... Taco Cabana.
Okay, off for more Austin adventures!
brigid
p.s. Louisville's #1 !!
Another mobile blog, but don't worry --- I'm not actually driving. My chaffeur is behind the wheel of a Texas-sized-Truck, just the way one should travel in Texas.
We left Louisville at 5am, and I played in Cincinnati the night before. I'm still tired, so I figured I'd get this blog started before I pass out. Austin is 31 miles away. Right around 15hours of travel time. Here are some fun statistics;
Miles traveled today: 1040 Number of pit stops: 3 (Nashville, Memphis, Texarkana) Number of footsteps taken in Arkansas: 0 CrackerBarrels passed: 15 Jesus billboards seen: 13 (my favorite "warning: prepare to meet God!!!") Adult bookstores: 13 Roadkill: 11 (only one armadillo so far) Plastic dinosaurs with zebra stripes: 1 Zebras: 0 Obama bumper stickers: 1 (but hey we're still 23 miles outside Austin) Puppies walking in the shoulder of the highway: 2 Tow truck towing another tow truck: 1 Smart cars: 2
And our favorite game: Number of USA flags : 42 Number of Texas flags: 125
MPG of the truck: 18 Ok, so I should be in a Prius. Or at least a '91 Honda Civic. But come on, it's TEXAS! The truck rocks.
I'm gonna go check in, unload, and head out for a Shinerbock and a taco. Tomorrow morning, come to Marias Taco Express around 12:30. I'm sitting in with Guy Forsyth for a few tunes. Rock!
I'm slaphappy tired today from running errands all morning and afternoon and not getting much sleep at all last night.
The Hard Rock Cafe show was super-fun. I did not get the box of puppies as request on my rider, but I did have a bottle of Maker's Mark sitting in the green room for me and lots of good food. Who knew the Hard Rock had such yummy nachos? And broccoli? And smashed potatoes? And fancy fruity cocktails?
If you are a Louisvillian who avoids the Hard Rock because of it's association with 4th Street Live! and commercialism, you should re-think that when it comes to hearing live music. It's an intimate venue, and the acoustics are awesome. They also don't skimp on the sound system, so it's really one of the better places in town to hear a concert.
But, of course, there's the other side to 4th Street Live!
Post-show, I met some friends for one cocktail upstairs at one of the bizarro clubs. We'd put together a scavenger hunt the night before that included things such as: a girl dancing on the bar, a uni-sleeve tank top, a server offering fruity shots from her cleavage, and other such oddities. It was an unofficial hunt, but we pretty much crossed everything off the list. The music was mostly horrible, except for that Beyonce single that I think kinda rocks and some Violent Femmes thrown in for good measure.
The strangest thing about the whole night was watching these idiotic women -- customers, not servers -- pole dancing in their mini-skirts, while pretty much everyone else in the room was trying to watch the Syracuse/UCONN game.
I was tired, but thought, hey, I'll just stick around for one cocktail and see who wins.
And two hours and six overtimes later, I finally went home.
Holy crap, did anyone else see that game?
Rob and Brian of The Muckrakers are on their way to pick me up for our show tonight at the Boone County Library, so I should sign off for now. I'm still irritated that they didn't want to leave earlier so we could go to The Creation Museum.
Mobile blogging today: coming to you live from the pedicure booth at Joseph's Salon & Spa in Louisville, Kentucky. I'm going to Texas on Saturday, and I have this ancient git certificate for an Essential Pedicure that Miss Stacy gave me for my birthday (July, you have plenty of time to plan for this year's gifts).
I know you're supposed to relax and turn off your phone while having someone rub your feet, but I've already enjoyed the blue oil neck massage. Miss Renee just finished the calf rub, and I'm having a grand old time.
There's a guy sitting next to me right now, explaining how he's going to San Diego tomorrow and that's why he's having his toes prepared. I immediately jumped in to talk about Friend-who-cooks-pancakes and his love for pedicures, except that the magazine selection sucks for guys. And actually, it sucks for girls. I read People magazine a few minutes ago and felt horrible that there's a photo of Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer canoodling on their vacation. I'm irritated enough by some of the recent Mobile Uploads on Facebook of me. Poor Jennifer Aniston. I bet she doesn't have a Facebook account. Anyway, I digress.
I was sitting in my chair thinking about NCAA basketball. Yes, I secretly love college basketball and tournament time. My parents took me to Louisville games regularly as a child, and I remember clearly the game where Pervis Ellison hurt his knee. I cried and cried and cried.
Anyway, the Louisville game started at noon and about five minutes ago I really wanted to ask someone the score. But it was this dude and two older women and our pedicure ladies, and I decided to just wait it out.
Then, this other woman who works at the salon comes up and whispers something to Miss Renee. And it sounds like numbers. Then Renee smiles.
"Wait ... is that the score of the U of L game?" I asked. At which point the dude next to me perks up.
"Yup. 53-38, Cardinals are winning."
Niiiiiiiiiiiiice. The rest of the pedicure is now much more relaxing.
Off to the Hard Rock after this! sound check...
C-A-R-D-S, CARDS!2
I was commiserating with my friend Lauren, who blogs for the Louisville newspaper, about the pressures of writing for new media. She just puts it all out there, and by all, I mean absolutely everything: her love life, her family, her personal hygiene, her mental issues. It's wildly entertaining, but sometimes painful to read. She commented to me that I at least always have a topic: music.
That made me think that I haven't really been blogging about music lately. I haven't really been playing a lot of music lately. I've been writing a lot. I've been practicing my scales. But I haven't been on tour in what seems like forever. That A Prairie Home Companion show was eight weeks ago!
My calendar is looking up, however, so I'm back to blogging about what I love: playing music.
Tomorrow night I'm playing with one of my Top Five (artists, you pervert), David Mead, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Louisville. It's an ALL AGES show, for a mere $5, which will benefit Musicians On Call. Doors are at 7:00, and I will begin shortly after 8:00. David plays at 9:30.
The Hard Rock show should be fun. I'm playing with a string section! Well, sort of. Cello by Peter Searcy and Upright Bass by Danny Kiely. When those two start bowing and I've got a piano thing going, it is oh-so-beautiful.
Friday night, I'm playing just outside of Cincinnati, at the Boone County Library in Boone County, Kentucky, with Rob and Brian of The Muckrakers. This is our first time playing together, live on-stage, even though we've been talking about it for what seems like years. I can't wait to spend some quality time with Rob in the Tour Bus (Shhhhhh.... Rob, just go with it, don't let them know it's not a bus....) and see if he's really as witty and charming as his blogs suggest. From what I know about him already, though, we may not even make it up there because we may be stopping at every roadside historical marker for a closer look.
After Friday's show, I'm off to ...... TEXAS! A blog about my love for Texas will surely come later, but for now, let's just talk about my show on Sunday, March 15, playing some accordion with Guy Forsyth in AUSTIN at Maria's Taco Express. Guy is Austin Music Scene Royalty, a founder of the Asylum Street Spankers, and the reason I play the musical saw. He's also my best friend's brother.
I'm going insane with daydreams of Chuy's salsa bar and late night breakfasts from Magnolia and vegetarian tamales from Polvos and swimming in Barton Springs and dancing in honky tonks and all the concerts I'll be hitting next week.
Obviously, I'll be blogging daily from South by Southwest, just like I did last year. Scroll back to the archives (March 2008) to read about my SXSW adventures of yore.
At this time, I'd like to call on you for some suggestions. Specifically, I'm looking for: - Texas trivia - your favorite Austin hotspots - favorite books about Texas (I'm currently reading the James Michener tome, so anything under 1000 pages would be preferable). - Texas playlists for my iPod
adios, cowboys! brigid
I'm over at Friend-Who-Cooks-Pancakes's house right now, borrowing his laptop and internet while I get some business out of the way. He's recently Self-Employed (note the optimism here), and he has discovered the joys of daytime television.
I have an amazing ability to tune out daytime television while I work, but simultaneously absorb all the important pop culture references. This comes from my three-year stint working at CBS News Productions, where my cubicle-mate and I had a television in out tiny cube. She always arrived at 9:00 to catch Regis & Kathie/Kelly. I got there in time for Rosie, followed by The View. We then switched to MSNBC for a while (yes, I know that seems strange for CBS employees), then we watched Carson Daly's TRL on MTV until it was time for the live Letterman feed from the Ed Sullivan Theater at 5:00. We still managed to produce a full hour-long documentary every eight weeks or so. And I happen to know the entire dance from the "Oops, I did it again!" video.
Anyway, I'm ignoring Friend-who-cook-Pancakes while he watches The View, but I noticed that his toes are still shiny from the pedicure we got several weeks ago.
He'd never gotten a pedicure before, but I thought it would be a perfect solution to his bad mood. He was a bit grumbly about having to read "Allure" rather than "ESPN," but once the calf massage and hot-oil foot dip started, he was all smiles. He was, in fact, so calm after the "man"-icure, that he was talked into going to see He's Just Not That Into You, which may just be the worst movie I have ever seen.
Maybe today is the day we get another pedicure and see Twilight (again).
Or I could go swimming and get some business done. At least our toes are still shiny.
So remember how I was the kid who had Perfect Attendance from Kindergarten through 12th Grade? I always wondered what it would have been like to skip school, just once.
I missed a day of blog yesterday. And I don't really feel all that badly about it. I had this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach when I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that I'd forgotten to blog. Then, I remembered, it's just a blog. I felt a little guilty that maybe Rainbow Mud had forgotten to take her vitamins, and if she gets sick, it's totally my fault. Sorry. Explanations later, reviews now.
* Daniel - You are totally right about my weakening my immune system. I'm not sick yet though, so I'm going to assume it passed the challenge.
* Tom - Awwww, thanks. I really don't think my frozen hair was pretty though, but it was fun to crunch.
* Bard - Hypothermia? Never! You're right though. I don't live far from the pool. But wait, are you trying to figure out where I live? Hmmmm ... I should be careful around you...
* Mia -- yes, you're right. Writing songs about people is a lot more subtle. It's funny too because no one ever figures it out when I write about a particular person. They always assume the songs that have nothing to do with them are about them. Blogs are way more blatant.
* Cari -- ah, Urban Dictionary. I've had many a jolly afternoon looking at definitions there.
* Kenny -- a song about Pi would be a loooooooong song. Maybe never-ending.
* Teresa -- Ha ha, yes, that was a bit of a rambling blog, eh? Full of non-sequitors that make total sense to me. Maybe i'm insane.
* Christi - If I yodeled Pi on the way to Texas, I'd be strangled by Texarkana. (Texarkana).
* Chris -- I'm so glad you enjoy my tangents. Luckily, I do too. So easily amused, am I!
* Bard -- Yep, I love a good pun or linguistic fact.
* Paul - A Pink Pecan Pattie? I obviously have much to learn about Texas.
* Trees -- I'll show you the left hand parts to those songs someday.
* Jim -- Hilarious. Yes, they totally know the difference between a G and a D chord:)
* Tom - Apparently, he overslept in Nashville and couldn't make it in time.
* Phil -- I'd love to see those photos! What a really fun afternoon. Next time, we'll make Laura sing more.
* Allison -- had no idea I played "The Immigrant Song" there. And that was a Dry Show. Maybe i just have memory issues.
Sorry the day off yesterday. I'm going to just say that it's Lent, and you're supposed to take Sundays off, right?
See you tomorrow, my pretties.
I was going to save this for the Sunday review, but a bunch of you asked for the link.
Yesterday's impromptu Live Lunch was neither recorded nor broadcast, but I've actually played on at least eleven Live Lunch programs, maybe more. Most of those were as a backup singer or a member of another band. But I played a full hour with my band last summer, and you can hear it in the wonderful WFPK.org Archives:
http://www.wfpk.org/CMS/?page_id=73
It's not one of the video ones though, so scroll through the list down to May 9, 2008: Brigid Kaelin Band.
The entire archive is a treasure chest of live performances by loads of artists, national, local, and in between.
I'm also having flashbacks to the day I played that Live Lunch. I hadn't slept in days because I was high on my show with Elvis Costello. I remember being giggly, goofy, and having so much fun. The interview portion is hilarious. It's also the only recording of me yodeling "The Immigrant Song," right around 50 minutes into the broadcast. Like always, I guess. Actually, I've been out late and up early the past few days, so I'm feeling a little silly now too.
Today I decided to take a day off work. I know you're probably thinking that everyday is a day off for a musician, but I'm usually bogged down with emails, booking, touring, writing, printing press kits, googling festivals, and blogging. It's not all sparkles and cowgirl boots.
By 10:00, I'd already been to the gym AND the pool and was ready to pick up my dad for our planned morning at the golf course. (No, I'm normally not Sporty Spice. I just think you're supposed to go golfing on nice days.) But alas! the wind picked up and rain seemed imminent. Dad and I decided to go downtown, have lunch at Cunningham's, and go by Louisville's premier radio station for their weekly Live In-studio Concert Series: Live Lunch, this week featuring Justin Townes Earle.
First of all, I enjoyed a delicious Bloody Mary because, well, it was my day off, and I felt like I'd been away for 8 hours already, and it's Friday, and really because I'm a grown-up, and I can do whatever I want. Stop judging:)
I've been trying to hear Justin Townes Earle for what seems like years. Every time he's in town, I'm on tour. He's playing Louisville tonight, but I have a previous engagement. I was pretty excited when I heard he was playing on WFPK. So Dad and I skipped across 4th Street into the fabulous studios only to hear that Justin was running late and wasn't going to make the show after all. Drats!!
I went back to say hello to a few friends who work there and grab a few cookies from the extra boxed lunches, when I noticed the staff and some of the audience was still there in the studio, hanging out, eating their lunches, and sad to not get a concert.
Do you know what else hangs out in the WFPK Studio performance space? A Steinway grand piano.
I'm not sure how it started, but suddenly I was playing Gershwin, and the audio engineer set up a microphone, and the audience was clapping after I played something. One of my favorite DJ's was there, and she sang a rockin' blues song while the audio engineer and I played blues on the piano. And it somehow morphed into my own Live Lunch, complete with an interview portion where I dispelled some rumors (Louisville's a small town ... people talk) and offered up half of a new song I've got and complete versions of many old ones. I was a little hesitant at first because it wasn't supposed to be my show. But then I thought about how those people had taken time off work to come hear a lunchtime concert, so a concert they shall receive!
So much for a day off work. And I still haven't seen Justin Townes Earle. But, wow, do I love my job.
If you're elsewhere in the world, check out WFPK. It's a great station, and you can stream it live.
Current mood:satisfied Someone on here asked me what the first song I learned to play on the piano was. It was "The Tennessee Waltz," which is still one of my favorites to sing. My parents' friend Dick'O taught me that when I was two or three, which was pretty easy because it can be played entirely on the black keys. I also vaguely remember picking out tunes by ear, my favorite being "The Wheels on the Bus." Who doesn't love that song?
Something I've not fessed up to in my blog is: I teach piano lessons. It's not my main gig, obviously, as I'm on the road a lot. I keep thinking I should probably stop teaching and just spend months on the road, traveling, singing, studying, reading, etc.
Two problems:
1) Geography. Louisville is perfectly located for small four/five day tours. I can leave Wednesday afternoon, and play Nashville, Atlanta, Knoxville, Asheville, and Johnson City and come home every week. Monday and Tuesday night shows are rarely well-attended anyway, so why not hang out in Louisville then? It's close to everything.
2) I actually really really love to teach. It's a disease, I'm sure. But I've taught as far back as I can remember, whether it was teaching my friends how to do back dives, or being a Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor™ (which I still am) during college and occasionally now, or teaching swimming lessons, or teaching piano, accordion, and guitar which I do when I'm in town. I've got a small roster of students, which I've cut back tremendously and am not interested in growing, but it is so satisfying.
I had a moment this week where one of the parents was a few minutes late to pick up her kids. Not a big deal, but my next lesson was already there and waiting. So in the interim we decided to form a band. Little Eloise* took over a dulcimer made out of a Spam can (that's a whole other blog), and Chandler* was in charge of a Gourd-based Carribean thing, the name of which escapes me. Elizabeth* was rocking the Dr. John left-hand piano, while I took some leads with my right hand. We took turns making up silly lyrics.
The best part was that I think they all finally figured out why I make them count out loud while they practice. Because Chandler was only to play the Guord on beats two and four, and Eloise had to restrain her dulcimer rock instincts to beats one and three. I love that look of understanding and commitment.
"The Wheels on the Bus" has never sounded so good. Maybe it was all those wacky new lyrics we wrote. I can't wait for next week's band practice.
*names changed to protect the underage.
Current mood:sleepy I woke up this morning at 3:45 reeeeeeeeally thirsty. Typically, when this occurs, I get a glass of water, chug it, and fall right back asleep. This morning, however, I could not go back to sleep. I tried counting sheep, but that only made me think of Scotland, which made me think of how Lyzz is going to Scotland next week, and how I am going to Texas to housesit for her, and how I'm going to eat nachos everyday in Austin, and see all my music/radio conference buddies at South by Southwest, and then how I should really get started on a new record so I have something to show them, and crap! how am I still awake?!?!?
One thing cheered me up when I finally got out of bed. Today is my favorite day of the year. MARCH FORTH!!! Note the pun. It is the only day of the year that is also a command. Sure, you polemical types could argue that March Second! and March Thirty-First! are also commands, but that would be silly. Nothing beats March FORTH! (By the way, it always bothers me that there are 31 days in March. "March" is such a short name that I think it should've been the one to get 28 days. Or even 30, but definitely not 31.)
March is actually quite a fun month for nerds like me.
Yesterday was 3/3/9, or Square Root Day, if you will. The next one will not occur until 4/4/16. Then 5/5/25. I wonder how many Square Root Days I will live to see?
My dog, alas, will likely only live to see yesterday's. He's not sick, but he is six. And Great Danes don't live so long. This is not a total non-sequitor, as today is Guinness's Sixth birthday! Born on March Forth! He was destined for greatness.
If we want to have further fun with March numbers, let's talk about Pi Day! Next Saturday, March 14 (3/14), is Pi Day. I'll be on tour on the way down to Austin that day. Maybe instead of making mix tapes, I'll calculate and recite Pi all the way down there. What a celebration we shall have!
Oooh oooh, even more .. the Ides of March then follow on Sunday, March 15, which, although generally not scary, could prove forboding for me if I follow the Recitation-of-Pi challenge because my Travel Partner/Chauffeur just might throw me out the window for doing that.
Maybe I can convince him to stop for a slice of Pie (at 1:59 obviously) somewhere near Texarkana. Not because there's anything remotely significant about Texarkana. I just like saying Texarkana. (Texarkana.)
Pie sounds good right now. So does a nap. Maybe I can recite Pi next time instead of counting sheep.
March forth, everyone!!
Current mood:contemplative In my quest to blog everyday, I have learned a few things about myself.
I like getting my blogs out of the way in the morning, but I'm constantly worrying that I'm not writing my best. That perhaps, if I waited just a few hours, then I'd have a cooler topic and a better idea of how to say it. Also, when I blogged once every ten days or so, it was always when I had something I really wanted to convey to my audience. I'm feeling a bit too prolific and hoping I don't get that Ryan Adams disease of putting out everything I write just because I can.
Oddly enough, though, I still feel like I'm holding back. There's a lot going on right now, even in this horrible Season of Winter Depression & Hibernation, but I hesitate to talk about my close friends and family in my blogs. I'm worried about some people. I'm giddy about some others. Some of them are annoying and bothersome as of late.
Funny how I have no problem writing about any of these folks in song, but in blog seems like a much bigger deal.
It's not a journal; it's a blog. I wonder what the OED has to say about a blog? If only I could get my hands on that massive dictionary.
Cheerio. I'm off to do some multi-tasking. Today, I'm reading a novel and sorting some receipts.
As I walked home from Lakeside this morning (my favorite swimming hole in the world), I experienced a strange phenomenon: my hair froze.
My hair is long. And curly. And for several moments on the half-mile walk home from the pool in 30-degree weather, I was concerned that my long, curly hair might break off like an icicle.
I know that isn't really possible, mostly from lots of Trial and Error at winter swim practices as a child. But I still tentatively, and somewhat excitedly, snapped my hair on the walk home, secretly hoping that it might break. Because wouldn't that be a hilarious story as to why I suddenly had short hair?
Before you chastise me for walking half-a-mile home from the pool with wet hair in below-freezing weather in nothing but a t-shirt, jeans, and a sweatshirt, remember that germs cause colds and pneumonia, not wet hair and cold weather and inappropriate clothing.
I'm finished with cold. I put away my gloves and hat and scarves already. I'm going to Texas in 12 days. It's sundress time, folks.
Besides, yesterday was St. David's Day, the official start of spring in my book. I like Wales and its crazy language. Dydd Dewi Sant Hapus! My Welsh friends once told me to eat a daffodil in honor of St. David's Day, which I obviously did. I'm still not sure if that's something they actually do over there, or if they were just having a bit o' fun with a gullible American. Either way, daffodils are rather tasty.
In honor of St. David's Day, here's a video Peter Searcy and I made in Wales last fall. I actually have a lot of other funny footage to edit from that trip. Maybe i'll post new Travelogues later this week.
Blogging from my phone, so pardon the typos. It's been av eventful week in blog. I've offended runners, Christians, sweet tart lovers, and more. But it's a record week for views and comments. I'll TTY to be offensive all the time.
Allison - Yes, your comment on running reads like a Televangelist, especially with all the smiley faces.
Steve, I do red to try Bikram yoga. You're on to something about the running-cycling-swimming connections.
Bard - Always exit the pool at the first sign of thunder.
Teresa - I owe you a longer response, but thanks for the almond tip.
Mia- so envious of life inVegas! I need to play a show there.
Robert - "I stay in shape by running from Evangelicals!" ha!!
Rob - holy Saturday, Batman! ( sorry) Appreciate your educated preacher info
Jonathan - I knew I couldn't be the only one to not know about the ashes.
Rex- Your Easter pun was perfect. Nicely played. Mia-Im doing the photo thing. Join in if you like! Mine are not good. I'll post on flickr so eday
Michael advent.. I didn't know about that til college when I babysat for a rich girl with a fancy advent calendar. Bard-Yeah what's Maundy all about anyway?
Rob/Muckrakers -if only Stephen Sondheim would teach Sunday School, we'd be in heaven.
Chuck - Ohio Valley spring, here we come.
Miss Rainbow-- Perfec names! I shall name my Lavender after you. I like the list.
Mick - Thank you for the sweet sweet comment!
Cari, Audrey Don, Bard, Trees- I'm so glad you enjoyed my crazy, wacky, juggle blogs. I'm here for your entertainment. Seriously. Daily smiles.
Rob - whoah, GREAT quote about shoes, a a very fancy punctuation.
Jim - "special feet" is a nice euphemism.
Chuck - yep, 4E. I have square feet. Daniel - we can still be friends. Keep me posted on comet sightings. I'm up for skywatching.
Trees- Treadi g water is a hard thing to learn An Olympic size hot tub is straight out of my dreams.
Rob - thanks again for the wise words. I'm going to show up at your church to hear a sermon from you sometime. I promise to behave.