This was a good weekend. I was so productive.

And since everyone else is doing it...a list of my adventures:

1. Finished up music video. I was the director. I haven't directed anything since I left the independent film company back in...2003. Wow. I forgot how much I loved it.

2. I want a digital camcorder. Unfortunately...they are very expensive. So...something to save up for. I filmed this music video using a regular digital camera...which is very hard to keep steady. And I edited it with Windows Movie Maker...which I'd never used before, but it was one of the most amazing and simple programs ever. Sure beat the $70 - $125 programs I had been looking at.

3. I'm thinking about selling some custom hemp jewelry. I'm looking into setting up a Web site to sell it at a good price. Everything is so overpriced on the Internet.

4. I want to sell photography. I just need to get lost somewhere and really just snap away at something so different from what's out there.

5. Got a lot of concerts and events coming up. It's all very exciting! :)

6. My legs and arms hurt like hell. But we got lost_judi's furniture moved for now. And it went faster than we thought it would. Always a good thing.

...and I'm sure there are other things...I'm just drawing a blank.

GOOD WEEKEND!

Late Friday/Early Saturday, I was working on a music video. Finishing it up today. But...man, no Ibuprofin in the world can make my ankles and arms stop hurting. I think it will pay off in the end though.

Watched about 9 episodes of West Wing last night. It was nice to just sit and relax and enjoy the show. I forgot how much I loved that show until I was able to get back into watching it.

And now...I'm off to take more Ibuprofin and help move furniture.

Stolen from ladystarblade

What Your Taste in Music Says About You

Your musical tastes are intense and rebellious. You are intelligent... but in a very unconventional way. You are curious about the world. You love doing something new. In fact, you enjoy taking risks and doing things most people would shy away from. You are very physical. It's likely that you're athletic, but not into team sports. You have the soul of an artist. Beauty and harmony are important to you.

I LOVE this because it's true!! :)

This is for you, after_lastnight...

Because when I saw this...I immediately knew you had to see it:



Um...no comment.

Reply to this meme and I'll give you a letter and you must list off ten songs that you like that begin with that letter.

kezzamorphosis assigned me the letter H

( Songs in the key of H )

Okay...I think I've calmed down enough to talk about my guitar lesson now...

Yesterday, as you recall, I took my first guitar lesson. And I was really nervous going into it because I've never played an instrument with strings before. But I bought this beautiful acoustic guitar and I figured I best learn how to play it.

My instructor, Tim, is awesome. He came out to get me right on time. And he was in a Hendrix shirt, which should have tipped me off to his awesomeness right then. But, we went back to the room and he commented on my big guitar case and how it was almost as big as me. LOL! It's so true! But, he loved the stickers I've put on it to decorate it thus far. And said he used to do that too! Heee!

Okay...so Tim just moved into this room, and it's decorated with this awesome light-up guitar clock. Yes, ladystarblade...we need one of these for our apartment. It's $30 at Big Lots, he says! Hellz yeah! So, I get out the guitar and he asks me if I know anything about the insturment. I shake my head. And he promises me that I'll learn. So, he pointed out the different parts of the guitar. And then started to explain his teaching style.

In order to learn chords, he prefers to teach songs. The chords are all in the songs, so it's just a matter of learning the songs and what chords are used when. He's certain that it's a much easier to learn them that way, and while he will focus on some theory, he'll start off with songs.

And to prove his point...he began playing "Rockstar" by Nickelback on his electric guitar. AWESOME! And then showed me how the different chords worked in the song. Which led him to his next question...

What kind of music do I listen to?

Heh. I told him I wasn't lying when I said I listened to everything. Having worked in a CD store, I really did get exposed to everything and there is good stuff, even in rap music, my friends. Especially in the music...not so much the lyrics. He agreed.

I mentioned that I was going to go see a Snoop Dogg concert, but not for Snoop Dogg, but to see the opening act of the opening act. That would be Fiction Plane. He'd never heard of them, so I talked a little about them, mentioned the connection of Joe being Sting's son. Turns out, Tim's instructor has played with Sting. On many things. And is like this big-wig in the Hollywood scores now. He said he needed to get a poster of his instructor to put on the wall in his room to be like, "Yeah...this guy taught me." After which, I said I mostly listen to classic rock these days.

This made him happy.

So, the first song I'm learning is "Wild Thing." He showed me the different chords I need to learn...because there are only three throughout the whole song.

A, D, E

And you play each chord twice: A, A, D, D, E, E, D, D, A, A, D, D, E, E...etc.

Easy!

So, as soon as I get a little quicker on the chords, which he was impressed by how quickly I picked up the fingering and playing...I'll actually know the song. LOL!! WOOT!

Yeah...I think I'm really going to enjoy this teacher.

I also have a fingering exercise that I really need to work on. It's harder than it looks. And he showed me a riff he made up thanks to his fingering exercise. Awesome! He handed me my chord chart and we were done.

So, hopefully by next Wednesday, I'll be better with my fingering on the strings and actually be able to strum out "Wild Thing."

As my instructor told me: "The guitar is one of the easiest instruments to learn, but one of the most difficult to master."

I believe it. But I'm willing to try!

I originally got the same answer as ladystarblade, who I pilfered this from. So, I went back and changed one answer that I could have gone either way on and that got me this:

You Are Electronic Music

You are energetic and expressive. You love feeling alive. You never get sick of your favorite things - they're what makes life special. You don't take tradition or conventions too seriously. You live for the future. You enjoy remixes and re-interpretations of things. Life is about making improvements.

Sounds a little like me.

Well, it wasn't easy. I had to really force myself to get things done this weekend due to being emotionally drained from the week I had at work. BUT...I finished a lot of things.

This morning, I wrote my final paper for Journalism Ethics. This afternoon, I buckled down and wrote up my final article for Newspaper Reporting. I had already gotten ahead on my History reading. I think I'll have one thing to read this week...Chapter 14...wherever he tells us to stop. I should start it, but I'm just not motivated.

The last day of classes for me is April 17. Final exams are April 24 and 29. GAH! At least I have time to study. Plenty of time to study. I'll need it.

I also...FINALLY...got caught up on the Celtic Music Magazine today. I had been neglecting it simply because of everything that went down at work. I'll be able to keep up again now that I'm caught up. I was only three postings behind, but they do take some time. Done. :)

And tonight...FICTION PLANE is playing in Louisville. We're going. And we're going to have a blast. I absolutely LOVE seeing these guys in a club scene and I can't wait to just sit back and enjoy the show. I haven't seen them perform since December so this will be nice. And this time, we have earplugs to save our hearing. WOOT!

More on that tomorrow. Looking forward to finally having a good time.

I love days like today. The sun was out. The breeze was wonderful. The temperature hovered in the low-mid sixties.

This morning began like most mornings. Yoga. I've come to really enjoy the yoga sessions in the morning because they do get me moving during the day. It's a way to wake up and relax before dealing with the hustle and bustle of the day. Even on weekends. And it's only 10 minutes.

After breakfast...ladystarblade and I went out to Cave Hill Cemetery. I had wanted to do a photoshoot there. I have some ideas in my head for it. But the ground was still wet and muddy in spots so it's best that it didn't. I'm still not happy with my lack of inspiration with photography as of late. *sigh* I just need to go somewhere I haven't been or haven't been to in awhile and give that a go. Dammit...something inspire me...please!

Once we finished up at Cave Hill, after being surrounded by hungry geese, swans and ducks while we fed them our left-over bread...and let me tell you, being surrounded by geese that are fighting over the food is not a happy time...we went over to Ear-X-tacy and also the Book & Music Exchange. She bought "Oysterhead" on CD...so she won't have to borrow mine anymore. YAY!

Then we went to Green Tree Mall...and that's when the revelation hit.

I want to learn how to play guitar.

I know...I was on the drum kick last month, but let's be honest...I have no room for a drum kit here at the apartment...nor neighbors who would appreciate me practicing them. But the guitar...now that's do-able.

So...ladystarblade did some research on one of the ones I picked up at the music store...

Anyone know anything about guitars? We went off of what some people said about this style. It seems people LOVE this guitar. But this is what I'm looking at:



The basics are here: Johnson Guitar 610 Player Dreadnaught

Do I know anything about instruments with strings? Nope.

But I sure as hell would love to learn. Sign me up for my piano lessons followed immediately by my guitar lesson. Dammit...I want to play music!

So, if anyone out there knows a thing or two about guitars, what about this one?

Why, Best Buy? Why?

Why were you playing really great 80s music when I walked in the door yesterday? Why did you encourage me to purchase 8 CDs with 80s music on it as a result? Why, oh why?

But...now I have great 80s music, so I shouldn't complain too much. I just...really didn't need to be encouraged to spend that money.

Aside from that...yesterday was the bachelorette party for only_playing. So much fun. Met up at the apartment. Went out to eat at O'Charlies. Decided to go bowling. Both ladystarblade and I decided that she needed to be decked out, so we swung by Wal-Mart and picked up a light-up tiara, wand, some beads and...a veil. Because every bride should wear a veil to her bachelorette party. And it looked amazing in the black lights when we were glo-bowling. :)

Going to try to accomplish a few things today before settling in for good. Much of it...is rearranging.

Wish me luck!

But first...laundry and helping mom out at the house.

What an evening!

Met up with my boss and the PR specialist from work at Molly Malones. It was really for ladystarblade because she deserved a day of her own. Ate good food. She drank plenty. Then we parted ways with the other two and walked around Bardstown. Hit another bar. Drove her home. Motion and alcohol were not a good combination for her...but she didn't get sick until after the car was parked and she was out of it. GOOD LLAMA!

So...she's asleep. I'm wide awake but I know I should sleep. So, I figured I'd try to get caught up on here.

Not happening. WAY too much going on.

But it was a good night for the most part! And that's what it was all about!

Swiped from fashionista_35 who stole it from ladystarblade who I was going to steal it from...but it was further down on the page. And I'm lazy.

Name your top 10 most played bands/artists on iTunes/FM/music player, etc., then answer the questions.

1. Goo Goo Dolls
2. The Police
3. Mika
4. Queen
5. U2
6. Billy Joel
7. Peter Cincotti
8. Bon Jovi
9. Sting
10. The Monkees


( Questions below... )

Oh. My. God!

No...seriously. This man can put on a show. He's so engaging. He's funny. He drops his mic stand when trying to be rock star while spinning it around. I absolutely loved it.

And will blog more about it another time. I'm so tired.

What I have had to drink thus far:

1 OJ & Orange rum (aka: Tropicana)
1 Schmirnoff Triple Black
1 Midori Sour
1 Amaretto Sour

And for the record...ladystarblade makes the best amaretto sours EVAH!! I should know. I drink them everywhere I go.

SO DAMN GOOD!

In an aside...played 80's Scene It. I won. Watched Peter Cincotti's scene in Spiderman (all 2 seconds!), watched Peter Cincotti on JC Penney special, watched Nickelback and started craving Jack & Coke.

We have no Jack.

We suck.

And...after_lastnight so should be here!! ♥

There is nothing quite like having those sleepless weekends. They wear me out, but this one was so worth it!

Friday night brought dinner out with ladystarblade, congoddess, her boyfriend, lost_judi, and Mom2. It was our Valentine's meal out. After that, it was grocery shopping and I worked on finishing up my homework before hitting the bed around midnight.

Woke up early the next morning. Ate breakfast and then got on the road by 9:00 to head out to Dayton, OH! Got there around lunch time and went and saw the Air Force Museum. ladystarblade had been before. But not me. It was very interesting. Lots of fun too. Ate lunch there and then headed out to Half-Price Books and found some vinyl but not much of anything else that caught our eyes.

Then...it was off to Dublin Pub in Dayton to meet up with the band, Siochain, who I was interviewing for the Celtic Music MP3 Magazine. I'd been trying to find a weekend to do it. The band is based out of Indianapolis, but it took a trip to Dayton to finally get it to work out. But, it was worth it. After eating again, this time Monster Grilled Cheese and fries...the drummer and bassist showed up. We sat and talked and they set up and then they ate while we waited on the rest of the band. They showed up a little later, set up, and ate. Then we got into the interview. Heh. SO. MUCH. FUN. I don't know how audible that is with the pub noise, but I think between ladystarblade and I we can figure it out.

The band loved us. They interacted with us before, but we all really hit it off. Between sets they came over to chat with us. I was sent to get water for Claudia at one point. And when we were freezing, they stopped by in between sets to keep us warm. It was really great. They are an amazing band. Very grounded. And SO DAMN GOOD!

They played at 9:00 and did three sets, ending at 1:00 a.m. This meant we got back on the road later than we planned and got home around 4:30 a.m. I was up around 10:30 and finished up my homework. ladystarblade emerged around 12:30 p.m. We did a few things around the house and then ended up eating breakfast/lunch with congoddess and her boyfriend while working on a project. Got some of the basics hammered out.

Then, we shopped a bit on Bardstown Road. That meant a lot of walking. More than we intended actually, but no biggie. Then back in the car for a run to Whole Foods. Back home. Got a bit more done. Am currently writing.

Back to work tomorrow. BLAH.

Busy...but worth it.

Fun quiz gakked from kezzomorphasis



Onstage, drummers usually have to stay in one place and keep the beat going. Off stage, they're far less predictable. Drummers are known for being wild partiers, but you seem like the kind of person who'd have no trouble keeping up. Drummers sometimes wear very little clothing (guy drummers may even go shirtless), but you have no objections to their casual, sexy style! No matter how old the drummer is compared to the rest of the band, he/she tends to act like a playful little kid. The stereotypical drummer isn't concerned with looking like a brilliant intellectual in interviews, because it's more fun to joke around than it is to take the questions seriously. When you hear that a band is recording with a drum machine instead of a real person, you feel like they're missing the whole point of rock 'n' roll. Real drummers are passionate and a little bit wild, and no machine could ever take their place in your heart.

Really? Hehehe!!

Yep. Remember him? That guy who won a Grammy for his song "Walking In Memphis."

I'm seeing him in concert tonight. He's coming to town, so I figured...why not? I own two of his albums. He's a great singer. And from what I've read...quite a talent.

The show is General Admission...so both ladystarblade and I are hoping to get in and see about some front row seats. We shall see. We'll do the best we can with what we got.

Looking forward to it!

I went ahead and swiped this from fashionista_35:

Go to this convenient compilation site right here http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php and find the five years you were in high school. For each year, admit to the song that was your favorite at the time, then decide which one you now generally consider to be the best song on the list. Lastly, pick the year's worst song, snarking optional.

Okay...in Horseheads High School we only had four years of schooling so...I'll run with that. ETA: Except I realize that when I start in 1994, it does carry thorugh 1998...making it five years. Wow. That's math for ya!

1994

Favorite Then: I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) - Meatloaf. Why? Well, it was epic. I loved the concept. And what I love about Meatloaf is his ability to drag the person into the song and make it play out like a movie. My dad got me hooked on his music and this song just did it for me.

Best Now: I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff. I love a song that lifts my spirits. This one does it.

The Worst: Whoomp! There it Is - Tag Team. Okay...classic for sporting events. But...so overplayed. I cringe now when I hear it. Seirously!


1995

Favorite Then: December - Collective Soul. The song was catchy. The lyrics quite good. And I enjoyed Collective Soul and their music. Still own quite a few of their CDs. Saw them in concert too when they came, of all places, to Elmira, NY.

Best Now: Always - Bon Jovi. Why? Well, because I love Bon Jovi. And the lyrics. Oh god, these lyrics are amazing. There's just something in these words that make me want to write a love story.

The Worst: All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow. Maybe it's because I've fallen out of love with her music. I don't know. Just not a fan.


1996

Favorite Then: Name - The Goo Goo Dolls. Why? Well, being from small town Upstate New York, we already knew about them. And then they started getting radio play across the nation. WOOT!! Let's here it for the boys from Buffalo!

Best Now: Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman. I've always found her songs to be like poetry. And I love good poetry. Even now.

The Worst: Who Will Save Your Soul - Jewel. No offense to Jewel...but I just never liked this song. Ever. Can't explain it. Then again, it took me a little time to warm up to her music anyway.


1997

Favorite Then: I Want You - Savage Garden. The first time I heard this song, I loved it. I still do. It's catchy as all get out. Bought the CD immediately. Loved their follow-up too. :)

Best Now: Bitch - Meredith Brooks. Because I am woman. Hear me roar!

The Worst: Return of the Mack - Mark Morrison. A pointless song. It got lots of radio play. I changed the station every time because it annoyed the hell outta me!


1998

Favorite Then: One Week - Barenaked Ladies. It had a lyric about The X-Files. And in my book that makes any song worth listening to. Saw them three times in concert after that too.

Best Now: Kiss The Rain - Billie Myers. I really get this song. I got it then, but I mean...I feel it now.

The Worst: Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground. You know...people raved about this song. But I hated it. Always have. Probably always will. And it had nothing to do with the spider in the music video ;)

Stole this from mzzgoddessblue

( Buy my album. Really. You'll like it! )

HAHAHAHA!!

ETA: Because it was so much fun, I stole this idea from ladystarblade...

( The Grammy goes to... )

Oh...I love this meme!!

So...as you all know, I'm a sucker for live music. Well, last year, I ended up going to A LOT of shows. I thought I'd make a list:

January 20 - Jonny Lang concert - Brown Theater, Louisville, KY
February 9 - Goo Goo Dolls concert, The Palace, Louisville, KY
March 10 - Taylor Hicks, The Alabama Theater, Birmingham, AL
March 23 - Great Big Sea, Southern Theater, Columbus, OH
March 24 - Great Big Sea, The Music Mill, Indianapolis, IN
April 13 - Celtic Women, The Palace, Louisville KY
April 27 - Loreena McKennitt , Rymann Auditorium, Nashville, TN
May 21 - Bo Bice, The Music Mill, Indianapolis, IN
June 7-15 - Travel through Ireland from Dublin to Shannon with the band The Brobdingnagian Bards on their Ireland tour.
July 14 - The Police, Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
August 3-5 - Gaelic Storm, Flogging Molly, etc., Dublin Irish Fest, Dublin, OH
September 14-16 - Siochain, Gael Force, Seven Nations, Indy Irish Fest, Indianapolis, IN
October 6 - Chris Botti, Brown Theater, Louisville, KY
November 2 - Peter Cincotti, Clowes Hall, Indianapolis, IN - CANCELLED - BLAH!! - DON'T GET ME STARTED!
November 17 - - The Police, Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
November 18 - The Police, Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
December 4 - Fiction Plane, The Mad Hatter, Covington, KY

So...much...fun!! I loved every moment! Well, except dying of heat in Dublin, Ohio. But the bands made it worth it.