White Blank Page

So it's Wednesday already, and I still haven't come up with a new artist to listen to for the week.  I have been playing guitar however, so you can't say I haven't been doing anything.  This is my new favorite song to play, and I'm sure my roommates are so sick of hearing it over and over again.

White Blank Page - Mumford and Sons

Artist of the Week: My Morning Jacket

This weekend, it really hit me. The real world crept up, tapped me on the shoulder, and told me that I'm not a little girl anymore.  I have a job. My friends have jobs.  Do you know how hard it is to hang out when everyone is working? DO YOU?!  But, during my short trip to Duluth, my friends and I still managed to go geocaching at Jay Cooke State Park, walk by the lake, drool over million dollar houses, and catch up after not seeing each other for over a month.  What does this have to do with the new artist for the week?? Just hold your pants on, I'm getting there...

So while Haley and Ellen were both at work, I was spending some quality time with Cath. Now, don't let her age fool you... she has great taste in music (and can rock a black eye like none other).  As I was happily burning myself a stack of cd's, she mentioned the band, My Morning Jacket.  "Never heard of 'em," I said, and had already sent them to the dusty recesses of my mind.  However, destiny wanted me to listen to this band.  When I went on my grooveshark account, My Morning Jacket popped up on the indie radio! It was fate. 

Sewing Project

Not so long ago, I made a summer to-do list. I was inspired by seeing the dresses that my roommate made, so number eleven on the list was to start sewing...
I brought one of my mom's sewing machines from home along with a big box of material (courtesy of Susie and grandma.)  I was full of good ideas for all of the cute dresses I was going to make and was exited to get started. Unfortunately, I remember why I hated sewing when I was younger.  I'm a stubborn girl who doesn't like to be told what to do, so would I want to follow a pattern? NO.  I'm determined but impatient, so would I precisely measure everything out, pin it neatly, or iron the seams for good measure? NO.  So the product of my ill-placed enthusiasm was two sad pieces of material that possibly could pass for a lumpy tank-top.  Not willing to give up so easily however, I moved on to a project a little more manageable for me... headbands!

Ok, they're not amazing, but I had fun making the little flowers.  I think Martha Stewart would be proud.

Artist of the week: Great Big Sea

Great Big Sea is a Canadian rock band whose songs draw from sea shanties, songs used to synchronize the movements of sailors as they went about their work. The best part about this group is the eclectic mix of instruments: fiddle, accordion, bagpipes, mandolin, concertina, tin whistle, etc. etc.

Bouzouki

bones (what?!)

This song is probably my favorite... I know it from somewhere, since I was singing along with. But I have no clue from where.   It really reminds me of Gordon Lightfoot. Which reminds me of listening to public radio on Sunday evenings in the kitchen with my parents.

Isn't it funny how the littlest thing can be so comforting?  After being away from home for a year, I love it when I wake up in my bed at home to the sound of Dad listening to Bob & Tom in the morning.  I don't even listen to what they say, it's just a conditioned response where I know it's going to be a relaxing morning of crossword puzzles and coffee with my Dad.  

Speaking of Dad... I bet not many Dads can say they get two Father's Days in a year. Mine can. Apparently Father's Day is next Sunday, not today.  Who knew?

A Musical Education

Right now, I'm reading a book called, "My Education," by William S. Burroughs.  I picked it up at the library the other day when I was wandering aimlessly around and recognized the name from "Naked Lunch." I brought the book along to Lake Calhoun today to read as I lay on the beach.  Unfortunately, it has been one of those books that you just can't get into.  I turn the page and realize I couldn't tell you anything that I just read, so I go back and reread it.  It's not like me to give up on something, so I just keep trudging through this story of Burroughs' strange dreams.






I decided to take a break from this book and embark on my own sort of education.  Not about dreams, but a musical one.  (However, I did have the weirdest dream the other night, complete with mini jumping alligators, the Titanic, and hundreds of rabbits bleeding out of their ears...) I love music, and like with anything else I really love, I feel like I should explore it more and learn everything there is to know.  But there is so much music out there, how can you even begin explore it all?  But as in all journeys, it starts with a single step, and step one for me is to pick an artist I'm not familiar with and listen to their music for a week.  I know I always have big ideas, and I don't always follow through, but hopefully I'll do this for the rest of the summer. And blog about it of course!

Artist #1: Motion City Soundtrack

• Indie rock/punk rock band from the one and only... Minneapolis!!
• According to wikipedia, they have been described as "too diverse to fit into just one particular genre."
• influenced by Ben Folds, one of my personal heroes :)

No Sweets Summer

It's June! Can you believe it folks?!!  And do you know what that means? Not only does it officially feel like summer, but it's also officially the start of my No Sweets Summer. (and yes, it's capitalized because that's what I officially named it!) My first test came today already.  As you may already know, I am a sucker for bargains and free things.  That's why when we had lunch break for our strengths seminar, I went to get free Jimmy John's from Northrop Plaza. Sadly, there was free ice cream there too! But since that would be the biggest fail in the history of dieting, I refused free food for probably the first time in my life.

In other news... I was at home for part of last week and had a great time seeing old friends and catching up.  I feel like I got a good dose of the outdoors before going back to summer in the cities.  My five days at home were complete with sand volleyball, rock picking, mud bogging, weeding, grad parties, bonfires, and best of all, slipping around in an almost empty, scummy pool.  No one drained our pool before winter came this year (typical parents, can't do anything without us kids) so we were working on draining it completely and then cleaning it out.   For some reason, Katie and I had the bright idea to go in there when it only had a couple inches of water left in it.  After slipping and sliding around in the nasty water, we both bring one foot back to kick water at each other. Suddenly, I was flat on my back, dazed and confused.  Lifting my head, I looked past my toes and saw Katie lying in the same exact position, looking just as surprised as me.  Funniest moment of my life.