Home again, home again

Jiggity Jig.

After a quick weekend in Boston, and another week in Birmingham, I am home.  Hooray!  It's not that I mind the travel.  It's the being away that's the hard part.  10 weeks and 22 flights.  I'm an expert packer.  I know my way around an airport.  I know how to deal with TSA.  I know how to navigate in other cities.  I take advantage of the surrounding area. I like to explore.  

I find that the readjusting to home life can be difficult.  Grocery shopping again.  Submerging myself in society again.  It's more complicated than it sounds.  When people just expect that you're gone, it's easy to make excuses.  

I am happy to be back.  Now is the time for action.  Let's get some stuff going.  Big projects are in the works.  Hopefully big relationships are in the works as well.  

Stay tuned for the massive happenings of my little life.

What I'm listening to: Even though it's an older album AWOLNATION has not left my car cd player for over a year.  It's one of the best driving albums I've ever found.
What I'm watching: Breaking Bad! I'm in the middle of the 2nd season.  My favorite line so far is "DBAA - Apply yourselves."  Love it.
Also - So You Think You Can Dance has begun for the summer.  This is the only competition show/reality tv that I will watch.  It's so great though.  Very emotional and such a great way to be introduced to new music.  I can't express it.  Must watch!

Out of Town, Again

It's travel season.  I tend to go on hiatus when I'm away, which doesn't really make sense because those times usually are the source of some of my best stories. I'm just so very tired most of the time I'm gone.  But I don't let this stop me from doing things, and then I just get more tired.
I've already spent 4 weeks in Indianapolis.  It was my 4th tim in Indy I think.  We have a love/hate relationship.  I'm not sure that I can say anything good about that city.  But I tend to like to go because my clients are delightful.  It's also only 3 hours from Chicago, where my best friend lives.  So it's nice to be able to visit on the company dime.
I helped my lovely Boston friend Briana shoot a wedding.  It was a ton of fun. Next day she shot my family.  Not gun shot, but camera shot.  It was fun.
I also went to Disney World.  I can't believe this trip is over!  We had been planning it for over a year.  4 days in the parks, and then a 4 day Disney cruise to the Bahamas. It was incredible.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  So much fun. Not relaxing at all, but so much fun.
I'm in my 3rd of 4 weeks of Birmingham, Alabama. this is also my 4th year here.  I used to call it Ali-Bama.  But I don't see that it is appropriate any longer.  Right now we have 8 people working in one room together.  It's drama.  Of course people aren't going to get along.  It's inevitable.  But there are some pretty pissed off people right now.  Only 2 more days until most of them will go home.
We've had some delicious lightning storms while I've been here.  I am not exactly sure why I love these so much.  But I do. So very much.
I'm off to Boston for the weekend, because I don't travel enough.  :)

What I'm listening to: Lots & lots of Nerdist podcasts. And lots and lots of Mother Mother
What I'm watching: Battlestar Galactica. I'm almost done with the 3rd season, and whoa baby I had no idea it was this good.

Sparkle & Letters & Photos

The weekend has been jam packed.  All good things, but jam packed.  Flew home from Indianapolis on Friday night.  

Saturday, I had the honor of assisting Briana Moore in shooting a wedding.  It was tons of fun.  Exhausting, but tons of fun.  This was my 2nd opportunity to help out Bri, while she's been in California shooting. (Yes folks, she currently resides in Boston).  I feel like I get to learn a lot while on these shoots.  Not just in taking the actual pictures, and using the camera, but how to interact with people.  Valuable lessons.

The wedding took place in Dana Point in a little park overlooking the Ocean.  The reception was something that I want. Lots of white lights, very casual.  It was wonderful.  While you're going to have to wait for photos of the shoot from Briana... here's a little sparkle & flicker.   

Below is the sight that got me teary.  The couple had a long distance relationship for a year.  They exchanged letters back and forth.  

Love measured in letters.  

I love mail, I love this.  Some day I hope to find someone who loves me enough to send me mail. 

The Devious Means - Songs We All Are Singing

I love music so very much.  I've often thought I should be a new music blogger.  Maybe a weekly: Now Playing blog.  I'm not very savvy on the lingo, but I know what I like.  I'll think about it.

I have to start somewhere though right? Here it is.  Songs We All Are Singing - The Devious Means. Let's call it SWAAS.  I did warn you back in January 2011 that The Meanies were coming... I hope you believed me.  :) 

This is the 2nd EP from The Devious Means. Compared to their 1st (Presenting The Devious Means), the progression is incredible, while being every bit as fun.  SWAAS totally captures the personality of the band.  I love that.  Seriously... Look at that album art.  How Mad Men Classy is that?  Totally reminiscent of the old 1960 Ocean's 11 poster, is it not?
(or was it the N Sync poster?  Hmmm.  I choose Ocean's 11)

     

For more of the Meanie vintage vibe, check out the website -  http://www.thedeviousmeans.com/ 


And now... onto the music.


Straight from the beginning, the "Song with No Name" captures you with the almost mystical western trumpet vibe...  It is so intriguing.  (Yes, keys & lead female vocalist, Rachel Anderson, also plays the trumpet.)


Shake. Watch out.... You better make some room, because you're gonna wanna dance. And then it is quite possible you'll want to continue for the next few songs.


Witmer is clearly the song that a crowd can shout along with.  Can you hear it? Hear it?  It has an urban feel that obviously comes from lead singer, Chris Faris' social work background.  The lyrics give such a clear vision of a tough life in the inner city.  And I love hearing the screams from drummer Jason Mize.  Excellent touch.


I am so incredibly happy with the new version of Porcelain Mouths. Megan Polendo's bass intro, has been described, pretty accurately, that it "makes me want to do dangerous things". And Anderson's cry at the 1:18 mark always blows my mind. It's my favorite. Her voice = Wow.  


Making Eyes & Good Company are cute new songs with the classic back and forth vocals that we've grown to love from this band.  I must also mention that Good Company features a rockin' accordion solo.  Accordions are cool.


I highly encourage getting this album. I have to say though, I still don't think it does the band justice to their live performances. (GO SEE THEM LIVE if you get the chance! You won't regret it.) If you're not in the Orange County area, this album still gives an honest representation of how delightful these people are.  


One of my favorite quotes from a review of their Album Release show at the House of Blues - Anaheim was from TNN Radio "As for the Devious Means, you’ll appreciate that you can see a little of yourself in each of them. You can also envision them being your brother, sister, neighbor or friend. You root for people like this, and in the end, you smile when you hear their music."  I love this, because it is so true. 


Well, that just about wraps it up. Be nice to yourself and listen to some Meanies. Soon, you too will be singing along with the Songs We All Are Singing. 
(or SWAAS to those of you who LOVE Acronyms.  Usually those in healthcare & chronic texters) 


P.S. I will send a copy of the new EP to the first person to leave a comment. :) This will be exciting. 

Can't Take It In

"Stuff your eyes with wonder... live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds.  See the world.  it's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factorires." - Ray Bradbury

There is an Imogen Heap song that has these lyrics
"It couldn't be any more beautiful. I can't take it in."

I thought this the entire day driving back from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis.
There is no way I can describe or capture how great it is.

There is so much beauty out there. Please, please, please go out and see it.

Happy Easter.

Stadium 22 - PNC Park

It's a bit of a crazy idea. You know, trying to visit every Major League baseball stadium.  Somehow though... somehow I'm doing really well.  

I was alone this week, working in Indianapolis.  I was alone for my birthday.  I am alone for Easter (tomorrow).  So I had this crazy idea to drive to Pittsburgh (a 6 hour drive) because baseball season has started and there is a stadium within a reasonable distance that I had not been to.  I was on the fence about if I should go or not.  A friend of mine said "You need to go. If you don't, you will regret it. And 'Adventures' is what you do." After hearing that, how can I not go? So here it is.  

First off, this is not where I sat.  But it was close.  The Pittsburgh skyline is pretty fantastic with the buildings and the Roberto Clemente bridge just beyond the Batter's Eye.  (Check out my new iphone camera lens!  This is the Fish Eye feature.  It is amazing)

I didn't get a chance to walk around the entire stadium like I normally do.  It being opening day weekend and all, the Pittsburgh fans packed it in.  I did manage to grab a gyro & a Brooklyn Lager craft beer. (both were the shortest lines... which is too bad.  Gyro = yum. And I guess Pittsburghians? prefer their Coors Light. Suckers)

So leaving the stadium, and crossing over the bridge you see this view.  It's incredible. 

On my way out, I did stop and snap a picture of me with the sign.  Pretty much just to prove I was really there.

Also, bonus!  It was a Saturday night game... which meant FIREWORKS!  Yay.  It was fun.

It was a great game.  Extra innings. Walk off infield hit.  Yeah, I'm happy I went. 

22 down, 11 to go. 

Before I Die...

A couple of weekends ago I visited my best friend in Chicago.  Now, let's just say it was a bit of weird visit... But I did get to see this wall.

In a few prominant cities throughout the country this wall has been inserted.  It starts out with just the white lettering.  With pieces of chalk set out for passers-by to write down their thoughts and dreams. 

Before I die...

Before I die I want to _______________ 

I had a whole week to figure out what I was going to write.  I think most people overthink this question.  Does the answer have to be something that is grandious? Something out of reach and not easily attainable? Something that is so abstract or generic or universal or completely out of our hands?  Something like Before I die I want to have World Peace.  Before I die I want to become pure light. Before I die I want to see the Cubs win the series.  (I was in Chicago remember... people can dream.) 

On the wall I wrote: "See the Northern Lights".  This is one of my biggest goals from my "life list" (see sidebar).  But it's true.  It seems small.  It seems like I should be aiming higher. 

After some major prodding... I think I have decided that Before I die I want to find someone that I can break down my wall with.  Because, dear reader, I definitely have a wall.  It's mighty tall, and greatly thick. It is going to take some persistance to get through.  I hope he's strong and dedicated. :)  

Either that or I'd like to catch a shooting star and put it in my pocket.

What do you want to do before you die?