Summer, Telluride, Bluegrass, Fun....

Hello all! It's been months since i've posted, and i feel like summer is slowly (i mean, quickly) slipping away from us!! It's almost August! Ahhhh! Alas, I am very excited for August because i will be moving into my very own apartment! Anyway, the big trip this summer has been to Telluride, CO for the 35th annual bluegrass fest. I drove out there with three other friends and met up with another who came from utah. Let me tell you folks, it was pure bluegrass bliss! it could not have been more fun or gone more smooth. Here are some photos of the scenery. i did not take these, someone just sent them to me. it was the most beautiful place i have ever been, and i miss it already.

Bon Iver means "good winter"...

...and what a good winter it was. I just saw this band called Bon Iver. and i was literally speechless after the show, in a good way. the man behind the name, is justin vernon of eau claire, WI and he is amazing. apparently he spent one winter at his dad's hunting shack, and recorded his album For Emma, Forever Ago, and now has national distribution through jagjagwar records. he's probably about my age, give or take a year, and it's just so frickin' cool to see this young guy getting all these great reviews and press. there are a lot of videos on youtube that i suggest checking out. just type in bon iver in the search and they should all come up. the first thing that gets you is the voice. you'll know what i mean when you hear it. it's so great to hear fresh new music and a new voice from this generation of crap that we are in! i suggest picking up this cd, you will not be dissapointed. my pick from the cd is: the wolves, part I and II. or something like that. check 'em out folks!!

Ode to the Buck n' Bass..... you officially kicked my ass!

This is my official praise to the Buck n' Bass lodge in Barnes, WI, where i spent three glorious days with some glorious people and one hell of a bartender named Steve! Last month, a couple friends held their 2nd annual birthday weekend at the Buck n' Bass lodge, and i was lucky enough to attend this year. I began referring to the Buck n' Bass as "wee-vegas," because apparantly, "what happens at the Buck n' Bass (wee-vegas,) stays at the Buck n' Bass (wee-vegas.) So, really, i'm not at liberty to divulge specific information aobut said weekend. However, i will say that it was an awsome time, filled with laughter, fun, music, and strippers( it is wee- vegas, don't forget. and they didn't actually take their clothes off, they just walked around in bikinis... wierd!) On saturday night, Medford came out to play a show at the bar, and totally tore the place down! it was great, and the locals seemed to like us... also a plus! By sunday, i was sad to leave, but ended the weekend singing on the front step with my friend Caleb, to our rendition of "Buck and Bass, you kicked my ass!" an instant classic! Here are a few photos from the weekend... some of the lovely ladies i hung out with! and of course, Steve the bartender!

Music washes away the dust from my soul....

Lately, I have been playing a lot more music, and singing more and I get such a high from it. I've been singing with a friend on wednesday nights, and the bar, and it's fun to come up with new stuff for us to sing together. It forces me to broaden my musical horizon and find stuff that I really want to sing or play, and also, to create new stuff as well. Now that I have this new computer, too, I'm able to listen to more music and make cd's and just have more access to more music. I would say that my wildest dream (well, one of them) would to be a part of a band or duo and to play shows, and perform. In the past year or so, I have met some of the greatest people, who happen to be muscians, and I can't even explain how great it is to hang out with them, and witness their music first hand, and be a part of it sometimes. I feel that I have really grown in my own musical sense because of these people, who can't help but make music... all the time! This has been some of the most fun I've ever had.... more to come soon.

Bloggable? I think so....

Well, for those of you who watched the Oscars (I did not, actually...) you would have seen Glen and Marketa perform their song "falling slowly." And then you would have seen them win the award for best song. And then you would have seen how cute they are and how humble and beautiful and amazing they are. I watched their speeches on the internet, and my love for them grows more... It's pretty amazing how they were virtually unknown in this country before this movie came out., and now they've won an Oscar! It's crazy!! Hollywood has somewhat redeemed themselves for the moment, but lord knows that won't last. As for Glen and Marketa, I'll be seeing them this summer at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I'll be front and center for that one, for sure... And so, the obsession continues...

Soundtrack to my life...

Well, to say the least, 2008 has already proven to be a great year. Definitely crazy at times, but i'm feeling renewed and refreshed and ready to move forward. The whole "soundtrack to my life" refers to the wonderful gift that my friend james just gave me. I came home the other day to a package that contained cd's that james had burned me for my upcoming trip to Hawaii (figuring i'd need some tuneage for the plane ride.) It's probably the coolest thing I have ever received and i literally freaked out when i got it. I think James was a little scared of my reaction. But it was so cool, because music is everything to me, and a part of my daily life, and the songs and the albums that he gave me really touched me and meant a lot to me. My choice pick from one of the mix cd's was "box of rain" by the grateful dead. Now, not only is this my favorite dead song, but it reminds me of the show freaks and geeks, (if you all remember that show??) and lindsay, the main character, puts on the american beauty album and rocks out to box of rain in her room. and that was kind of a pivotal moment in the show, and a point of letting go and moving on. and the other day, when i was dealing with all of my car dilemmas, FINALLY!, i was listening to that song and really feeling like i was letting go of things from the past and clearing the way ahead. As insignificant as it all could seem, these past few days have allowed me to breathe easier and feel a little lighter. peace and love to all in 2008!~

*Ganesh (pictured above) is the God of knowledge and the remover of obstacles. Take time to listen to your heart and hear what you are holding inside, and begin to release it. Clear the way for the good stuff! Namaste!