Friday, November 29, 2013
331/365 (11/28)
Happy Thanksgiving!!
My aunt and uncle have these big wooden hippos that they acquired during their time with the State Department in Africa. My niece LOVED them, as evidenced by the big hugs she gave the "uppos" throughout the day.
Help Save Penelope
In my Thankfuls post the other day, one of the things I mentioned being thankful for is having health insurance, even if its not the best ever, because its better than nothing. If you've been following the Obamacare debate at all, you know that there are some folks out there, a very small number, who are just not going to benefit from it - they were out of luck before, and they're still not getting much with the new law. One of those people is someone that I met several years back when I used to go to local music shows all the time. Penelope has given endlessly, giving her time, money, heart, and soul to local bands and musicians in the DC area and neither asking nor expecting anything in return. And now she needs help. Her father has started a fund raising campaign to help pay for Penelope to have the bariatric surgery she desperately needs to stay alive, because even with Obamacare, the plans that she could afford will still leave her with huge out of pocket expenses, and most do not cover the surgery that she needs. In order to get the plan that would cover the surgery, she would be spending pretty much her entire paycheck on the premiums. A bad situation either way.
You can read more about Penelope's story on her website. Even if you've never attended a show in the DC area and never met Penelope, consider helping out, and consider sharing her story. No musician who has made it past singing cover shows at bars would be there without people like Penelope.
You can read more about Penelope's story on her website. Even if you've never attended a show in the DC area and never met Penelope, consider helping out, and consider sharing her story. No musician who has made it past singing cover shows at bars would be there without people like Penelope.
330/365 (11/27)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The Thankfuls
My new friend The Good Groupie posted today about three bands that she' thankful for, and it got me thinking about what I'm thankful for this year in general. It's been quite a year, and while I always have the standard friends and family thankfuls, I wanted to actually think about it a little more this year. So here's what I've come up with:
First and foremost, I am thankful for my husband. 2013 was a big year for us, getting married and all. I'll save y'all the sap, because really, who wants that, and just leave it with I am incredibly lucky woman and it feels awesome to be able to call him my husband.
I'm thankful for my job. Times are tough out there, and I'm lucky enough to have a good job that pays enough to pay the bills and mostly live the life I want. I know what it's like to not have that. I am also lucky that I don't mind going to work every day. I mean, of course I'd rather stay in bed longer, but I have a boss and coworkers and employees who make it an alright place to be.
I'm thankful that I have health insurance. It might be crap insurance, and my out of pocket costs have increased significantly this year, but its better than nothing, especially if, God forbid, something ever happens. Along those same lines, I'm thankful that I'm pretty healthy. I have my issues, who doesn't, but I am pretty lucky.
I am thankful for music, and the communities I am privileged to be a part of because of music. This goes in so many directions. I'm thankful for the band Ingram Hill, which got me into the world of independent music, and introduced me to so many good friends, and indirectly introduced me to the Rock Boat. I wouldn't have met my husband if it wasn't for Ingram Hill, in a six degrees of Kevin Bacon kind of way. The Rock Boat has given me not only some of my favorite bands, but some of my best friends. It also introduced me to turntable.fm, which sadly is dying next week, and a whole new group of music loving friends. Music brings me sanity, gives me an outlet for emotion, relaxes me when I need relaxing, cheers me up when I need cheering, occupies my time when I'm feeling bored, and I could go on and on. Basically, I have no idea who or where I would be without music.
As mentioned before, I am extremely thankful for my family and friends. I have an amazing family, and I am lucky enough to have married into an equally awesome one, one that accepted me completely from day one. I have friends all over the world that I don't get to see nearly enough, but I know that they're there for me if I need them, and no matter where I end up, whether for work or for fun, I can almost always find someone I know (usually through music!).
There are so many other things to be thankful for that I can't even begin to express. But these are the big ones. Happy Thanksgiving, and oh yeah, one other thing - thanks for reading :)
First and foremost, I am thankful for my husband. 2013 was a big year for us, getting married and all. I'll save y'all the sap, because really, who wants that, and just leave it with I am incredibly lucky woman and it feels awesome to be able to call him my husband.
I'm thankful for my job. Times are tough out there, and I'm lucky enough to have a good job that pays enough to pay the bills and mostly live the life I want. I know what it's like to not have that. I am also lucky that I don't mind going to work every day. I mean, of course I'd rather stay in bed longer, but I have a boss and coworkers and employees who make it an alright place to be.
I'm thankful that I have health insurance. It might be crap insurance, and my out of pocket costs have increased significantly this year, but its better than nothing, especially if, God forbid, something ever happens. Along those same lines, I'm thankful that I'm pretty healthy. I have my issues, who doesn't, but I am pretty lucky.
I am thankful for music, and the communities I am privileged to be a part of because of music. This goes in so many directions. I'm thankful for the band Ingram Hill, which got me into the world of independent music, and introduced me to so many good friends, and indirectly introduced me to the Rock Boat. I wouldn't have met my husband if it wasn't for Ingram Hill, in a six degrees of Kevin Bacon kind of way. The Rock Boat has given me not only some of my favorite bands, but some of my best friends. It also introduced me to turntable.fm, which sadly is dying next week, and a whole new group of music loving friends. Music brings me sanity, gives me an outlet for emotion, relaxes me when I need relaxing, cheers me up when I need cheering, occupies my time when I'm feeling bored, and I could go on and on. Basically, I have no idea who or where I would be without music.
As mentioned before, I am extremely thankful for my family and friends. I have an amazing family, and I am lucky enough to have married into an equally awesome one, one that accepted me completely from day one. I have friends all over the world that I don't get to see nearly enough, but I know that they're there for me if I need them, and no matter where I end up, whether for work or for fun, I can almost always find someone I know (usually through music!).
There are so many other things to be thankful for that I can't even begin to express. But these are the big ones. Happy Thanksgiving, and oh yeah, one other thing - thanks for reading :)
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
324/365 (11/21) #tbt
Today's throwback Thursday is from Newport, Rhode Island, when I lived there in 2002.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
I think we might have had a breakthrough
I used to write music all the time. I always had a notebook with me, or scraps of paper to write down lyrics I was thinking. I had books full of full songs, or random lyrics that I wanted to eventually return to and finish.
Somewhere, in the last couple of years, I lost that part of me. It's been a long time since I really wrote. I don't know what happened. May it was intimidation when I started dating my husband because he's such a talented musician. But he's not a lyricist or a singer, so why would I be intimidated? Maybe because I'm unsure that I'd ever be as talented as him? Maybe it's seeing some of my friends do so well with their music, and I don't think I'll ever get to where they are? Maybe I've just lost my touch? Maybe I'm just getting old, and can't find the words anymore? Maybe my happiness with husband has killed the pain that I used to draw on so often for lyrics?
Whatever it is, I'm hoping that it's finally going away. Husband has been bugging me for ages to write with him. We did, once, when we first started dating. I can't even remember the words to that song, or where I wrote them down. But the other day, drawing on the pain of some things that he's currently going through, and doing what he always does, picking up the guitar, he played a line that immediately gave me chills. Just two chords, one progression in the middle of a line that he was messing with, and I just stopped, and said I want to write to that. The power of just those two chords, with no lyrics to them yet, and not even paying attention to the rest of what was happening, it just struck something in me.
Last night, I finally said OK, no TV, just you, the guitar, me, a pen, and a notebook. Let's get writing. And we did. I don't think it's done yet, but we have a scratch recording on my phone, and probably a bridge and maybe one more verse to write, but it's coming along, and so far I'm really excited about it.
I hope this is what I needed to start writing again. Music is such a big part of my life, and writing has been my primary mode of expression since I was 12 years old. I've never been able to accompany myself or truly realize what I imagine my songs to be. But now I have no excuse - my husband is one of the most talented guitarists and writers I've ever met. DUH!
So here's to more writing, some recording, and renewing my love of the art. Wish me luck - both with the big picture and being able to read this later:
Somewhere, in the last couple of years, I lost that part of me. It's been a long time since I really wrote. I don't know what happened. May it was intimidation when I started dating my husband because he's such a talented musician. But he's not a lyricist or a singer, so why would I be intimidated? Maybe because I'm unsure that I'd ever be as talented as him? Maybe it's seeing some of my friends do so well with their music, and I don't think I'll ever get to where they are? Maybe I've just lost my touch? Maybe I'm just getting old, and can't find the words anymore? Maybe my happiness with husband has killed the pain that I used to draw on so often for lyrics?
Whatever it is, I'm hoping that it's finally going away. Husband has been bugging me for ages to write with him. We did, once, when we first started dating. I can't even remember the words to that song, or where I wrote them down. But the other day, drawing on the pain of some things that he's currently going through, and doing what he always does, picking up the guitar, he played a line that immediately gave me chills. Just two chords, one progression in the middle of a line that he was messing with, and I just stopped, and said I want to write to that. The power of just those two chords, with no lyrics to them yet, and not even paying attention to the rest of what was happening, it just struck something in me.
Last night, I finally said OK, no TV, just you, the guitar, me, a pen, and a notebook. Let's get writing. And we did. I don't think it's done yet, but we have a scratch recording on my phone, and probably a bridge and maybe one more verse to write, but it's coming along, and so far I'm really excited about it.
I hope this is what I needed to start writing again. Music is such a big part of my life, and writing has been my primary mode of expression since I was 12 years old. I've never been able to accompany myself or truly realize what I imagine my songs to be. But now I have no excuse - my husband is one of the most talented guitarists and writers I've ever met. DUH!
So here's to more writing, some recording, and renewing my love of the art. Wish me luck - both with the big picture and being able to read this later:
316/365 (11/13)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
314/365 (11/11)
Happy Veteran's Day to all those who have served or are serving!
Today's picture has absolutely nothing to do with veterans, other than that I am one. Here's another wedding picture :-)
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Saturday, November 09, 2013
312/365 (11/8)
My Noah blanket - had it since high school and its still my favorite thing to curl up with.
Thursday, November 07, 2013
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
308/365 (11/4)
Monday, November 04, 2013
307/365 (11/3)
Friday, November 01, 2013
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