This morning as I walked out my door the sunrise was spectacular. It was a deep red-orange concentrated at the horizon, and then as the colors spread further into the sky the red gradually released to an almost pure orange.

I went to the handi-mart for my usual 32 oz. diet dr. pepper fountain pop. When I walked out of the handi-mart (I think it's actually casey's now) I was facing west. By this time the entire sky was lit up in color. But it wasn't the sky that caught my attention, it was the buildings. Still facing west I noticed that the buildings were glowing with the colors of the sky. They looked like the exact salmon color that is so prevalent in Florida. It reminded me of the good times I had there nearly two years ago.

As I drove to school, the concentrated color at the horizon was gone, but the sky was still beautiful.

Today is Gillian Welch's 40th birthday. I really like her. Here's a pic of her and Dave Rawlings. I saw them back in August in Des Moines. It was a great show. Dave in particular made me smile.


I'm a sucker for those "duos". Truckstop Honeymoon is going to be at this venue this weekend.

woo hoo

check it out.....

only 40 days until......

BOB

Hopefully I'll get some good tickets. Kinda strange...it will be almost exactly 3 years since the first time I saw him, in the same location. Not only that, in 2004 I saw the Drive-By Truckers a few days prior to Bob....this year I will see DBT less than a week before Bob (on my birthday). Cool.

Coming soon: Kidney Update

Bob

I went to the Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival in Madison this past weekend. I camped. It was fun. It stormed. I bought two CDs. I have great stories. I will post about that later...I haven't even had a chance to look at my pix yet...but here are some pix from Jeff.

This weekend I am going to see Gillian Welch...also for a later post.

I really want to bid on this....but for now the following picture just makes me happy so I had to share it....


I need to see Bob this calendar year....I wonder if I can make that happen somehow?

technology

No, I didn't get an iPhone. :-) I'll wait till the bugs are out and the price is down.

As many of you know, my 20G iPod died last October (R.I.P.). Since then I have been trying to figure out a way to purchase a new one and not feel completely guilty about spending my money on something that I don't actually NEED (although just before I bought that iPod, I was told that everyone needs an iPod). I mean, I am sending a child off to college in a couple of months!

Speaking of college.....

Hollyanne had orientation June 19-20. Yes, there were tears (from me). Yes there was a bit of panic (from me - when I attended all the financial aide informational meetings). Yes there was excitement (from both of us).

Coming out of orientation, we realized, Hollyanne really should have a computer to take with her to college. It's not that they don't have any....but her own would be best. So......

I bought a new MacBook for her (she contributed $500 graduation money). With any Apple computer purchase right now, comes a free iPod Nano or $199 toward any new iPod. So being wicked smart I decided to bite the bullet and purchase an 80G iPod (with video, of course).

(free engraving when you purchase online)

So far, I have only purchased one game to play...Ms. Pac-Man of course. And I am going to purchase No Direction Home to watch. I need to clear some space on my iMac first, though. I'm not gonna lie to ya....Ms. Pac-Man is fun, addictive, and very 1980.

After much contemplation, I decided that it would be much better for me to refrain from jogging with the new iPod (since that's how I broke the first one). So.....that meant I had to go to Target (instant gratification required) and purchase this little number...

only 1.07 inch tall, 0.98 inch wide, and 0.33 inch deep

It's pretty cool. I've jogged with it a few times now. Maybe it will help me get back into the swing of jogging???? It only holds about 240 songs (well, really, it's a little less than that, I think)...but that's enough for jogging I suppose. These little iPod shuffles come with their own little dock. It's hilariously cute. New toys are fun. So fun that they are also catching. Helen went out and bought a green one the day after I bought my Lil' Orange Gearle.

Side note - unrelated to iPods - it's kinda fun to type a word in the search window of iTunes and see what comes up. For example, I have 14 songs with the word "waiting" in them.

Here's one of them.

whew!

As usual, the last few weeks have been full of activity. I've been doing so much that I haven't really had a chance to write about any of it. I suppose doing rather than writing isn't so bad.

Right before graduation, my car died. New motor. My fault. Don't really want to talk about it, cuz if you don't talk about it...it isn't happening right? Anyway, it doesn't really matter now...it's fixed, and I owe a bunch more money. :-) I found it interesting that it all occurred the week before graduation...why is it that things like this in my life always have the best timing??? Oh well, as mom says..."This too shall pass."

Over graduation weekend, I was also given an opportunity that forced me to make a decision. Decisions aren't really my strong point, especially in times of stress (which it was...graduation weekend, car's dead, money's gone, and career decision to be made...YIKES). Anyway, at any non-stressful time in my life (when is that again?) it would've been a no brainer. However, I took the weekend to think about it...and came to the same conclusion I would have in any circumstance. Next year I am leaving the regular classroom to take a Title I Reading position in my building. Basically this means that I will be teaching first and second grade students that require extra support in the area of reading. I love teaching kids how to read. So this is a good fit. Along with the position comes more responsibilities, more leadership opportunities and more paper work -- all of which I enjoy (excluding the paperwork). Jokingly I've said that it's like a promotion sans more pay. This also means that I will be moving again. Ick. I expect to be moved by the end of the week...if not by the end of today!

Since graduation I have attended several events in the area. Hollyanne and I met the McBrides in North Liberty for a bluegrass festival. We were only able to stay through the Mike and Amy Finders band...but it was worth it, of course. Hollyanne didn't enjoy it as much as me (she even went to the car and slept a bit), but it was still fun. She did like Mike and Amy, even though Mike's voice was shot, so it was more like the Amy Finders Show. :-) The weather didn't cooperate. It was a rainy weekend...so the event was held inside the church (which did distract from the usual festival atmosphere that I enjoy so much). I will probably go back to this free event next year. Here are a couple pix...

Shinbone Alley
which includes Al and Aleta 'the hammer' Murphy -- two of my Burlington Street Bluegrass Band favorites

Mike and Amy Finders

From North Liberty we headed back to the Cedar Rapids/Marion area. Hollyanne and I met Scott and members of his family at the Longbranch for Shayne's debut. :-) You can read a bit more about it here. I was amazed at Shayne's guitar playing. I had heard him some when I was at the house...but he far exceeded my expectations...and was definitely the star of the show. I took pictures, of course...here's one...

Shayne Smalling
a.k.a. Golden Arm

Every summer Iowa City has a free Friday night concert series on the ped mall as part of Summer of the Arts . This year I plan to attend as many as I can! This past Friday Scott and I went to Iowa City to see The Beaker Boys. They put on a good show. There were a lot of people there...and the weather was perfect. I was a bit disappointed because it was basically a cover band. I have come to expect a little more out of my trips to Iowa City. However, the weather, atmosphere and company made up for the lack of originality. :-) This week we hope to attend again -- this time one of my favorites -- The Mayflies. Seriously, if you haven't caught them yet...you need to! You will walk away talking about that fiddle player, Annie, and especially my good friend Jon Eric on the banjo. They play bluegrass -- with a kick. Scott and I will get there a bit late -- I have a wedding rehearsal to attend. I am singing at my friend Nicole's wedding on Saturday.

Summer school started yesterday. I am teaching reading and math to kiddos that just completed first grade. I have 11 students for one hour of math, and 11 different students for two hours of reading. All summer school classes are housed at the middle school. This means that as the school year was winding down I started putting items into different piles at school. One pile to be moved to my new 'classroom' -- more like an office (or a glorified closet), one pile to go home (because I can't fit all my crap in a closet) and one pile to the middle school. Once it's all moved in and the kids arrive, I don't mind summer school so much...but the days leading up to it plain just piss me off!!! :-)

This week is as busy as ever...full of things that I am required to attend. Each morning filled with summer school, and the afternoons filled with "other". Monday was a summer school planning afternoon with a colleague and I did a bit more moving. Tuesday (today) is a cadre (leadership team) meeting. Wednesday I am meeting with our district's curriculum director regarding my new job responsibilities (a.k.a the paper work required because it is a federally funded position -- ICK) Thursday I am on the interview team to hire a new first grade teacher...then the jam?? Friday I am meeting with the new first grade teachers in our building....then the wedding rehearsal...then the Mayflies!

Whew!

Next week looks much better. I haven't been able to go the Thursday night jam for about three weeks. I also hope to rectify that this week!! The jam was moved from PHAT Daddy's in Marengo, to The Colony Village in the Amanas. I'm not thrilled about that...but it still works. I'll give it the summer and see what happens. It's the same people, basically...but the atmosphere isn't quite the same. Also, the drive isn't nearly as beautiful...Interstate 80 is very boring and full of trucks, noise and pollution. Bleh.

Hollyanne got a new job. She is now working on the phones. She starts today. This week is training...then beginning next week she has a regular schedule that includes 25 hours/week. Having a set schedule will be much better. Her having a car would be even better! Did I mention that she dyed her hair BLONDE???? Good grief, Charlie Brown.

Speaking of Charlie Brown, I saw Charlie Braun this morning at school. I never see him, of course, and he avoids talking to me whenever he can. So I was a bit surprised when he was full of conversation this morning. He even said that he misses Emmie sometimes. I felt like saying...."Uhhh....yeah...thanks." He misses Emmie? WTF?

I'll end this post with this....

Last night on KUNI's "Night Music" with Al Schares I got to hear Bob Dylan's Million Dollar Bash followed by my favorite Dylan song, Visions of Johanna, sung by Chris Smither (he does several Dylan covers that I enjoy - and I don't like it when most people do Dylan covers). And, believe it or not, I have neither of these songs in my collection!! It was stellar. ;-) (and I will have to acquire both of these songs soon, of course)

lucy kaplansky

Last week we had a snow storm. My grass needs mowed...and we had a snow storm. It was 80 degrees a week or two prior to this, and yet....we had a snow storm. I wish I had taken a picture when the storm was complete...but here's what it looked like when I woke up Wednesday morning....

I like the (long) green grass with snow on it - very Iowa.

It snowed a few more inches as the day went on Wednesday. I missed The Mill on Wednesday night as a result. I probably could've gone, but with my car a bit under the weather, I thought it best that I let it rest up for the drive to Marengo the next day.

This is what's left of the snow this morning....



**************

Last night my mom and I went to Lucy Kaplansky at CSPS. She was wonderful, of course. My mom was a virgin Lucy Kaplansky concert goer -- I've seen her three times now. It's just her and her guitar, exactly the way I like it. She plays a Martin.

One of the things that I like about seeing Lucy in concert is watching her facial expressions and body language. When she is singing she often looks up...and for some reason it looks like she is making up the song right there on the spot...like she is talking to you. She doesn't wear much make-up, but always red lipstick -- and she is beautiful.

Mom turned to me when Lucy played this song, big grin on her face, and said, "You have to learn that one." So she bought me the CD. Last night I got home and listened to it and was sorely disappointed. It's OK, in fact, some of it is great. But something happens when record producers get a hold of music. The link that I provided above will give you the "souped up" version of the song. I enjoy it much more in it's pure form. The thing is, I've usually had good luck with "Red House Records".....but maybe even they have gone a bit too commercial. They turned Mom's song into some sort of cookie cutter country music thing. I hate that. The thing is, the lyrics, melody, harmonies are all good...but the package version on the CD, not so hot, IMHO. But I will learn it for Mom and never listen to that song on the CD again. :-) The lyrics of the song are a bit too 'needy-stalker' for me......but, I'll learn it for mom.

"I'm just a bit maniacal about you And derailed when I'm without you." ***snip*** "If you could love me just a little it'd be okay 'cause I couldn't leave you anyway" ***snip*** "If you turn away, I'll just turn you back around"

Can you say needy-stalker??? I mean seriously....why would you settle for "if you could love me just a little, it'd be okay"???? Maybe that's why I'm 36 and never been married???? :-) I won't settle for less than being loved, and loving, completely. But I dig these lyrics....

"It doesn't matter what you say I just like the way you sound." ***snip*** "Don't blame me It's just your burning gravity That brings me to my knees In front of you"

Both of those phrases would be great in a different song ....mixed with the rest of the song...it tends to add to the needy-stalkeresqueness of it. (I think I may copyright that word, needy-stalkeresqueness)

Anyway....so here's another song I'm going to learn....Broken Things.....the CD version is much better than Don't Mind Me.....much more pure. I think you'll enjoy it. (who am I talking to anyway? no one really reads this) LOL. I think it's supposed to be about God, but for me it's about the "somebody" out there that I end up with. This one was actually written by Julie Miller, not Lucy. But I like it.

phat daddy's

It's Thursday. Phat Daddy's again. It's to the point now that I live for these days. It's just so much fun, and there are so many great people. Thursdays are even better than jeans days at work....and that's saying a lot. :-)

I am anxious for summer to arrive. I really like the drive to Marengo...it's beautiful...it's so Iowa...and it will be even better as the seasons progress. I may have to stop next week and take a couple of pictures of the scenery. The last two weeks I have been watching goslings grow. If they aren't too big, and if I can get close enough...I will stop and snap a picture or two on my way next week.

I think it would be nice to find someone to work up a few songs with. Tonight, Jim and I played "Hold On" (Tom Waits). I also like this version (Redbird). Anyway I've always wanted to play guitar with someone...and sing. I'm not good at that picking'n'shit...lead guitar I am not...however, it would be fun to have someone noodle around while I play behind them....and sing together. I should suggest it to Jim, but I won't. LOL I'm such a dork....and a chicken. I decided tonight that I really like his teeth...they make him cuter...and therefore it's more difficult to look him in the eye and talk to him. :-) Chicken.

Tonight was fun. There was a little boy there....just 2 or 3 years old....and he was totally enjoying himself. I asked him if he wanted to strum my guitar, but he was too shy. Then right before he left, he gave in and tried it. He also did a little dancing...and waved at me on his way out. Very cute. The only thing I like more than music, I think, is those little cutie pies.

Donna brought me the article that Jim wrote...if you recall I had lost it in route from Marengo to home a couple weeks ago. As expected, Jim nailed it. And....I laughed out loud a few times as I read it...which is always good. I knew I liked him. Here's a couple quotes I like in particular.....(emphasis mine)

"Except for the steel guitar, there were no amps or microphones. It was a pre-electric sound. You didn't play louder than the person sitting next to you. Otherwise the hoe-down hootenanny could turn in to a riot, or an acoustic punk rock concert." ***snip*** "I followed the rules and kept quiet. When I wasn't sure of the chords, I played really quiet. When I knew the chords, I played really quiet."

My friend Doug from Washington and his daughter Becca stopped by too. I may have Doug talked into bringing his banjo next week. I hope. :-)

Here are a few pics from this evening.

the wapsi

The Wapsipinicon River has been a part of my life forever. Growing up I remember a family friend, Rick, telling me that the Wapsipinicon River got it's name from the "Indians". The story was...Native Americans were canoing down the river and one dropped a penny in the river...and said..."Whoopsi, penny gone." I was just young enough to believe that story....never mind there were no pennies back then!

As a kid the whole family would go out to this same family friends' house (Rick, Marlys, Aaron and Stacie) and we would shovel the snow off the river and ice skate. I don't really know if I actually remember that, or if it was just a memory from pictures.

Pinicon Ridge Park, located on the Wapsi was a particular favorite. I used to ride my moped out there when I was a teen to "get away." I spent hours at "Horseshoe Falls" (which is really just a creek that is sometime a trickle and sometimes dried up). I dreamed of walking down the big hill that lead to Horseshoe Falls on my wedding day, to be married on the bridge. In the fall, of course, with a blanket of leaves for an aisle. I made whistles with the snake grass that grew around the creek that lead into the Wapsi.

Also at the park we would go to the "beach". To this day we still have family reunions there at times....and always go on the paddle boats. There are deer and elk in the park....always wanting fed by those passing by. Hollyanne caught her first fish at Pinicon Ridge Park....in the Waspi.

We hunted mushrooms close to the Wapsi as well....but I cannot tell you where...it's a secret, you know.

When I was a teen I worked at a ice cream/eatery called "The Wapsi Drive In". It wasn't a drive in when I worked there....and now it's a HOUSE! It was located just off the Wapsipinicon River. I always smelled like french fries when I got home...but I got a free ice cream cone every day that I worked...and all the soda a girl could ever want.

When I was six years old, I went to camp Wapsi for a day camp. I only remember one day at camp. That day I played along the Wapsipinicon River the whole day. I was picked up by my Aunt Maggie, jeans soaked to the knees, and when she brought me home I was told that my sister died in a car crash. I was sitting on my bed, with a parent on either side.

Growing up our family would also canoe a lot on the Wapsi. We would put our canoe in somewhere downriver from the damn...sometimes at Rick's house. And then we would canoe to Waubeek, IA. All that is in Waubeek is a tavern. Not a bar...a tavern...called F B & Co. Somehow Dad's truck was always waiting for us there when we finished.

Tonight I went to FB & Co for open mic night.

I stopped in my hometown to pick up my mom. As we drove toward Waubeek we passed the spot that I totaled the car summer of 1987...and broke my nose. We crossed the Wapsi at Steckel's Bridge....a location that I remember well from a time I went canoing in HS...and night came too fast....by the time we got to that bridge, I was SCARED TO DEATH. :-)

FB & Co, was just how I remembered it from all those years ago -- definitely a place to "hover" when going to the bathroom. :-) The smokiest, diviest bar in the world, probably. Rick was already there. Aaron (a great friend - like a brother to me, and also happens to be Rick's son) was there, too. Other than that, I recognized no one. But shortly after we arrived, my brother and his wife walked in the door.

As we walked in there was a guy playing some sort of a keyboard wrapped around his neck with a guitar strap or something. He was playing...While My Guitar Gently Weeps.....on the keyboard....and not well. There were both solo acts and bands of various ability levels. Aaron played with others, as well as on his own. There was a young man there, a senior in HS that played the mandolin. He was quite good. There was a "reunion" of sorts of a band called the Waubeek Trackers. I remember them from many, many, many years ago. Steve Maurice is still hot and he's gotta be in his sixties. I remember being MADLY in love with his nephew when I was in Jr. High and High School. He was the first long-haired musician that I couldn't seem to keep my mind off of!! They were probably on of the best groups there.

I wish I would've taken pictures. Next month I will take pictures, and maybe even play on stage...we'll see.

marengo jam

American Heritage Dictionary says:

jam session
n.

1. An informal gathering of musicians to play improvised or unrehearsed music.
2. Informal. An impromptu discussion.

Every Thursday evening in Marengo they have a "jam session" at Phat Daddy's. I learned about this event from my friend, Donna that is from the Marengo area. I met Donna at The Mill in Iowa City. She is one of the Wednesday night regulars. We actually met, by accident, due to our twin names, and we've become fast friends.

Donna has been suggesting that I visit the jam at Phat Daddy's sometime and bring my mandolin or guitar. A few weeks ago I took her up on it, but left my instruments at home. The next week I took my guitar and now I am hooked. I've been there several times now.

It's a typical, small mid-western town...PHAT Daddy's is on "the square". The restaurant serves pretty decent food, and it's an informal environment. Everyone knows everything about everybody, very similar to what I've hated about small town life in my past....but no one knows anything about me, which is nice. The anonymity is what has made it safe for me....but...(un)fortunately I make friends fast. :-) I won't let that stop me from continuing there though.

Max is my favorite. I don't know what it is about him....but he is simply glorious. :-) He has this no-nonsense air about him...he's talented, soulful and kind. JR cracks me up. He really knows what he is doing and remembers every lyric to every song ever made (me, exaggerate? no!). He's always running around the place making sure everyone has what they need....and plays guitar, harmonica, and sings beautifully to boot. He and Max have also "taken me in", which is nice....JR in an outgoing and obvious way, and Max in his own quiet, understated way.

The whole group has been very welcoming, actually. They are just that way...the more the merrier....similar to my home growing up.

There is a man there named Jim that is particularly talented. I'm fairly certain he writes his own music, and he plays a lot of things that I like. He and I have several common interests. He is a writer/editor/photographer. He has a diverse appetite for music....and many musicians that no one knows, he and I share a liking for. I'm sure we've been to some of the same artists at CSPS -- Natalia Zukerman, Rachael Davis, Mike and Amy, etc. Last night, Donna gave me a copy of an article that he wrote regarding Thursday nights at PHAT Daddy's. He wrote the article for the newspaper called The South Benton Star Press. Unfortunately the article fell out of my pocket somewhere between PHAT Daddy's and home! I'll have to ask her for another copy. He's very interesting to me.

Every night that I have taken my guitar I have played for a minimum of 3-4 hours...and once I think we even played about 5! Needless to say my fingers are in pretty good shape! I still need to have a few lessons on the mandolin...and frankly, just play it more....but then I will probably take that in too. It's motivated me to learn some new songs....my musical background (music theory in particular) has been helpful to keep up...but really....it's all about three chords most of the time. :-) I like it when I get to play a bit of the stuff that I really like....although I get nervous. Those of you that know me, realize that this is kinda a big deal for me, given the fact that I rarely play in front of people (over the age of 7). You would think that because I am such a lyrics freak...and a huge fan of poetry and words in general...that I wouldn't have a problem...but with my nerves....Dori takes over....and.....oh well, I forget the words (and sometimes even the chords, geesh!). I suppose that the more I do it (and the more they humor me) the better I will get.

Cathy, a friend that I work with, and her significant other, Gary come most weeks too. At first I didn't really like the idea....mainly because of that whole anonymity thing....but I've gotten used to it. I've always liked both Cathy and Gary...and they are VERY fun people. After the first week I had several people at work tell me they heard about it (from Cathy), which I wasn't exactly thrilled about. But, she understands now that I've expressed my feelings about the whole thing, and it's really not that big of a deal, I suppose. I only hope Cathy can keep my other secret!! ;-)

I bet you will hear about PHAT Daddy's again......here's a few pics.....

Mom, Martha and Cathy

JR

JR and Jim

Gary

Max

D Squared (not to be confused with The Donnas)

Motley Crue