last night I went crazy

That means I stayed up past 10:30pm.

Manchester-acappella-teacher friend Sarah [not to be confused with former-roommate-wedding friend Sarah] texted me on Monday to see if I wanted to go see Jon McLaughlin this week. "Oh, she probably means at IWU on Friday." I follow him on instagram, so I knew he'd be close then. [That's totally not creeper behavior.] Then she said Thursday in Bloomington. I don't know if you know, but Thursday is a school night. I'm not usually allowed to stay out late on a school night, my self-inflicted curfew has been 11:00pm since I turned 28. The concert didn't even start until 9:00pm.

I was screwed.

But, let's be real, there are only about 5 people who I'd like to see in concert. [Concerts just aren't my thing: large crowds-ugh; standing for hours-ugh; drunk people-ugh; being shoved by drunk people-ugh and get out of my personal space. I'm quite the social butterfly.] Mr. McLaughlin just happens to be one of those people who I want to see in concert. I did see him at Connor Prairie a few years back, so that is a testament to my fan-dom. In other news I'm a terrible fan because I'm easily distracted and forgetful.

Here's the song from the end of the night:

via snolanator

The full version. (-:

This song...I love it. Seriously. LOVE. 

So, it was a great concert. I have no complaints except the standing. In my ideal world, all concerts happen in rooms with stellar acoustics, no instruments are plugged in for sound [only for fancy-schmancy sound effects used minimally], there are seats for all [and people actually use them], and there are espresso beverages readily available. 

Happy Friday, friends! 

xo

stuck in my head.

I am a terrible dancer. 

I can find the beat. I have rhythm. I just don't have coordinated movement between what is happening in my mind versus what my legs and arms are actually doing. It's very unfortunate. 

I also white-girl snap like a cham-peeeeeeee-yone. If you don't know what I mean by "white-girl snap" it's from an old, old Ellen clip where she talks about people who don't know what to do with their hands when they [I] dance so they [I] end up just snapping their [my] fingers. 

I am plagued by the snaps. 

And duck lips. 

Basically when I dance my body betrays me. 

Isn't that how it should be? 

xo

brave

Have you heard this gem that Sara Bareilles brought to us?

I'm digging it.

Oh, bravery. You are a tough nut to crack.

When you're an outsider looking in, doesn't bravery seem easy?
When you're an insider looking in, doesn't it seem like the deepest widest pool that you want to get the heck out of ASAP?

I think about all the people I know who are doing brave things with their lives. I want some of that bravery.

I want to be the person who dances like no one's watching. I want to be the girl who sings without worrying about the right pitch. I want to invite people to watch the mystery of labor and birth. I want to be the person who leaves it all behind to live in a new country where I don't even know the language. I want to meet new people with all of my personality on the table. I want to try new things without worrying if I'll be able to be successful.

I just got into the accelerated nursing program I've been praying I would get into. My prayers felt like pleas because I was [honestly, completely, 99.9%] sure I wasn't going to get in. They base everything on grades and when I submitted my transcripts I was told, "oh, a B- in Anatomy? You'll probably have to retake that to get in." So, I made other plans. Every program has different pre-requisites so I took as many that would fill the slots I needed for different schools as I could. I completed my application to my first choice and then made a few back-up plans: private school, other public schools in Indiana, possible application to a public university in North Carolina, and then doing some more research on out-of-state schools I might be able to attend that would welcome my 3.52.

In the midst of taking my summer chemistry course, I got a packet in the mail!

Then, I cried.

If you know me well, you know I like a plan. I like structure. I've been waiting for over 10 years to figure out what the heck to do with my life and now you want me to wait and take this and that stupid course just so I can apply for your program that starts in EIGHT MONTHS?! What am I supposed to do with myself between here and there? I want, I NEED to start now! Let's get this show on the road!

So, that felt a little...anxious.

I have a list of things to complete [including a slew of immunizations] and then I start in August.

This August.
Two months.
Hallelujah!

It's going to be hard. I'm going to be a bad friend. I'll probably have moments of being a bad student. I'll let things slide. I'll forget important dates. But, in the end? I'm going to be headed in the right direction.

It's scary and intimidating.

I feel brave.

So, what about you? 

Who have you seen being brave? 

What are you doing that makes you feel brave? 

love you people.

For Your Aural Pleasure

New and old things I have discovered lately in the music and story realm.

---------------------------------------------------

I have three words for you: This American Life.

Podcast that awesomesauce, friends. I've been driving quite a bit lately and an hour of This American Life is the fastest hour you will ever spend. Case in point: every time I've gotten lost--always driving from West Virginia to Ohio oddly--it's been while I'm listening to This American Life. I recommend listening to this when you drive I-70 across Missouri when you cannot miss a turn since there aren't any.

---------------------------------------------------

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: The Heist

I have now made a goal to learn how to rap. Wish me luck!

**This album is so explicit that if there is a clean version at least half the words are missing. JUDGE ME.**

---------------------------------------------------

Tiny Desk Concerts

Another gem from npr, also tons of fun! 

You can listen to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. 

Do you love a cappella the way I do? Cantus. [See the guy in the cardigan with the plaid and the beard? He announces the second song. I find him totally attractive, in case you're looking for me.]

Adele is adorable.

---------------------------------------------------

I heard this group on a Lowes commercial [weird?] but this music is positive and happy and fun! This one is totally clean. (-:

American Authors

---------------------------------------------------

Anything new I should check out? 

love you people.

xo

Bruno Mars: Unorthodox Jukebox

I firmly believe that music is subjective [unless it's complete crap a la William Shatner] and we are all entitled to love or hate artists like Ke$ha [hate], Sara B [love], Tay-tay [meh], Mr. Mraz [love], Beibs [meh], or T.Keith [hate].
It's an opinion.
It's mine.
It's yours.

These are my opinions on the Bruno's new album. In the past I have found myself to enjoy his poppy beat and catchy tunes, so I thought I'd check out his new album. To summarize my thoughts:

• he sounds a bit like Michael Jackson in many songs
• he likes the f-word
• he likes sex
• he likes seducing women

A specific song I had a reaction to: "Gorilla." It's the third song on the album. It comes after "Locked out of Heaven" [which if you listen to any radio, I'm sure you've heard] and before "Treasure" [pretty much about the same things as every other song].

First things first, everything I know about gorillas I learned from a)Koko's Kitten [an elementary school classic book, which think I checked out from the library about 20 times], b)Return to Me [the romantic drama-dy starring Minnie Driver and David Duchovny], and c)Congo [both the book by Michael Crichton and the movie that followed]. Perhaps my knowledge on gorillas could be expanded.

I did grow up on a farm though, so I have some idea about animal procreation.

When he uses the words "you and me baby making love like gorillas" I pretty much think of that. Of the chickens and dogs and cows and cats on the farm. Of male animal forcing himself on female animal. Bruno Mars, is this what you're trying to imply? You want to copulate like animals? Really?

Because was my favorite was always when the female animal wouldn't take it and bit the male animal and he slinked away like a fool.

Basically, even though this album is on the top 10 list on iTunes, it's pretty much crap. Not bad music, not non-catchy tunes, but crap in the subject matter portion [if you care about that kind of thing]. Not that I don't enjoy a bit of crap now and then, but there's only so many songs I can hear where he's trying to convince whatever woman he's with to take off her clothes.

Ladies, keep your panties on.
He only wants one thing, and it's not your mind.


I'm sorry I said "panties."

A post where I show you multiple YouTube videos

Feels Like Home by Linda Ronstadt

Now, that's an awesome video...not. The song makes me happy. I want it in my wedding. I have all kinds of things picked out for my wedding, I just need a groom. (-:

Not Over You by Gavin DeGraw

Yes, I'm a sucker for Gavin. What is that girl wearing? Or not wearing?!?! PUT SOME PANTS ON!

We All Need Saving by Jon McLaughlin

<3

This is totally inappropriate, but it does make me giggle. And seem slightly less depressed than those first three songs may make me appear: 

The entire album makes me laugh. IT IS OFFENSIVE and EXPLICIT: what do you expect from the writers of South Park? I have a special love for inappropriate musicals. It's a part of who I am.

Chipotle commercial:

I first saw this last fall and it's stuck with me.

What are you watching on YouTube?

On Repeat

I can't stop listening to this, it makes me want to run around and jump and shake my groove thang. Yes, I just used the phrase "groove thang."

The official video is a little weird. It wouldn't let you watch it here so if you want to see it head over to YouTube.

I'm still loving the song. Here's to another replay.

Florence + The Machine
"Dog Days are Over"

Theme Song

So, I've kinda been in love with this song for several years...like since college. It's nothing new. 

And it's country. 

Go ahead, judge me. I know all you hipsters all you hipsters and wannabe hipsters and I'm-notta-hipsters and Maggie are anti-country. 

Here's my question for you: Is there anything better than cruising around on a warm spring day, sun shining, windows down, hair blowing, singing as loud as you can to the sounds of a guitar with your best twangy voice?? 

The answer: NO.

Sara Evans - Born To Fly (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: Sara Evans

Born to Fly

I've been tellin' my dreams to the scarecrow
'Bout the places that I'd like to see
I said, friend do you think I'll ever get there
Ah, but he just stands there smilin' back at me

So I confessed my sins to the preacher
About the love I've been prayin' to find
Is there a brown eye'd boy in my future, yeah
He says. girl you've got nothin' but time

But how do you wait for heaven
And who has that much time
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know, that you were born, you were born to fly

My daddy, he's grounded like the oak tree
My momma, she is steady as the sun
Oh you know I love my folks
But I keep starin' down the road
Just lookin' for my one chance to run

Yeah, 'cause I will soar away like the blackbird
I will blow in the wind like a sea
I will plant my heart in the garden of my dreams
And I will grow up where I'll wander wild and free

Oh, how do you wait for heaven
And who has that much time
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know, that you were born
You were born yeah
You were born to fly

So how do you wait for heaven
And who has that much time
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know that you were born
You were born to fly fly fly fly

Music for Yooooou

Hi, have I told you how much I love you lately? You forgot? I'm sorry, I'll be better.

I luv you.

After spending some time in Twitter-ville, I kept coming across people talking about The Avett Brothers. I trust the people I'm friends with on Twitter. I must find this music. I must listen to it. I must like it.

Found it on on Amazon. [For $5! you know I love a deal!]

It happened to be this live album:

Love it. Although, sometimes there's some questionable screaming. I only mention this because I'm concerned for the vocal chords of whoever is screaming/yelling/shouting/passionately making noise.

Here's the song that gave me pause:

I think you might need it in your life. Would you like it?

Aaaaaaannnnnnnddddd the winner is: 

Lee! 
[And, yes, I only counted the first responses from Lee and Rachel in the running dialogue occuring. ( :]

Leave me a comment telling me what new music group or album you're smitten by right now. Hopefully we'll discover some new music in our lives. ( : 

Deadline: Next Thursday, Feb. 24
[We don't have to be BFF for you to enter. It's ok. I'm just going to email the winner the album 
via Amazon. Go ahead. You can do it.]

xo

It's Time for a Giveaway!

You know I love Christmas music. You need some of that love.

Trust me.

I am now going to admit something to you. I just spent some time (no, I'm not telling you how much) reading the biographies for the members of Straight No Chaser. And yes, if they were a tenor 1 or 2 I totally skipped their pages.

I am mean to tenors (at least ones I don't know).

I'm sorry to all the tenors out there, I don't know why I'm such a bad person. Or a weird person. Or whatever I am.

Anyways, back to the task at hand. You want some Christmas music?

These are 3 of the most recent albums I have purchased:
1. Christmas Cheers, Straight No Chaser

Pretty good. In my opinion not as good as the first album. Still, how can you go wrong with men's a cappella? That's right, you can't.

2. Very Merry Christmas, Dave Barnes

This is a really fun album with just a few traditional songs you'll know and several new ones that you need to know. I love Dave Barnes in a totally platonic way since we don't know each other. I mean, I love him as I love all human beings, but not romantic, lustful, I-want-to-have-your-babies love. And I'm done. 

3. Let it Snow, Michael Buble

He's a crooner. I'm a swooner. This album is delightful and makes me think of Christmas trees and fireplaces and knitting while big, fluffy snowflakes float down outside. You know, your traditional country Christmas.

So, the winner gets his or her choice of one of these three albums.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas song. Soooooo easy.

Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 5 8:00pm 

I like you. I think you're nice.

Do you have all these albums? Fine, you're not invited to the party. I also got Celtic Woman's Christmas album...are you interested in that one?

Deets: One comment per person, music will be sent through iTunes via email.

WINNER chosen by random.org!!!

Erin, whose favorite song is

definitely O Holy Night.
I have a CD mix I made a couple years ago with all artists I could find singing that song.

Christmas Music

Now that it has been Thanksgiving it's officially time to break out the Christmas tunes. Of course, I have been listening to them for a couple of weeks now, so once Thanksgiving hits I'm not weird any more.

Maybe?

So perhaps I'm still weird. Whatever.

My top five Christmas songs:
5. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

4. Carol of the Bells

I especially love this song in an a cappella choral arrangement, which I could not find on YouTube. *sigh*

3. The 12 Days of Christmas, Straight No Chaser

Now, in general, I don't like the traditional version of this song...it's soooo looo-oooo-oooo-ooong. If you don't yet listen to Straight No Chaser, you should. I want to have their a cappella babies.

2. O Holy Night

I have some major love for Josh Groban. The man has talent and his twitter is ridiculous. Come, on. Are you really surprised I follow him on twitter? (Is twitter capitalized? Proper noun? Twitter?)

1. Mary Did You Know?

There is no version of this song that stands up to the arrangement my high school choir conductor created for our women's chorus. It will remain in my mind, one of the best pieces of music I have sung. I love it...and I totally have a contraband (Really, I have no idea, but I like to think of myself as rebellious.) copy and I got to sing it last year for Christmas Eve service in a trio with Emily and Becky and that too was delightful.

Today, I am hanging out before eating a delicious Thanksgiving dinner tonight with Viola, Josh and Christina. I'm having fish! ( :

Happy Thanksgiving! Welcome to Christmas music season!

Billy Elliot

Megan and I went over to our first show of the SunTrust Broadway Series at the Durham Performing Arts Center last night.

It was Billy Elliot.

It was amazing.

There's something magical about children on stage, it's almost an element of the show that allows the audience to breathe. You're not thinking about perfection, you're just impressed by the poise and talent of these kids. They know what they're doing. They're actors and dancers and singers. A little extra space that adults tend to give to kids pulls the audience into the story.

Photo Cred: Playbill.com

There are five young actors playing Billy Elliot, and ours was Lex Ishimoto (the one in front).

Delightful.

We all know that I'm a rather--shall we say--emotive person. Also known as: I cry like a big, stinkin' baby.

Just for you, I shall share one of the moments that really had me chocked up. This is the song from when Billy is trying to find his inspiration for dance and he has a letter from his mom (who died when he was younger) which his dance teacher reads.

Tears streaming down my face. It was just so sweet and sad and heart-wrenching. I absolutely loved it.

(Yes, I really was that excited.)

And when it was over, all I could think was: "Why didn't I dance as a child? Who knows, I could be a *star*!" Mom? Why didn't I dance? Is it because I was slightly awkward and uncoordinated? I lacked flexibility and grace? I had the body of a shot-putter and not a ballerina? Why? 

Freedom

This is "Freedom Song" sung by Jason Mraz. I found the story behind it on the LA Weekly blog. They have a video and more information, but they included this summary:

"Freedom Song" was born in the midst of disaster. Written by Luc Reynaud and several children at a shelter in New Orleans, during Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. "Freedom Song" was eventually recorded in a studio by the children and Luc and the Lovingtons. From there it caught the attention of many, including noted musician Jason Mraz, who introduced the song to an organization called Free the Slaves.

"Freedom Song" traversed the world, finding its way to a village in Ghana. There, former child slaves find a way to release themselves through song, from the mental bondage that remains, even after their rescue by Free the Slaves.

I picture something, it's beautiful
It's full of life, and it is all blue
I see a sunset on the beach, yeah
It makes me feel calm
When I'm calm, I feel good

And when I feel good, I sing
And the joy it brings makes me feel good
And when I feel good, I sing
And the joy it brings

Come on along
I know you really wanna feel our song 
We've got some light to bring
We've got some joy in this thing

I see birds fly across the sky
Everyone's heart flies to get there
Food is frying and people's smiling
Like there is no other way to feel good

And when I feel good, I sing
And the joy it brings makes me feel good
And when I feel good, I sing
And the joy it brings

Come on along
I know you really wanna feel our song 
We've got some light to bring
We've got some joy in this thing

Freedom
Got to give you some of that freedom
It's freedom 

Freedom
You deserve your own freedom
It's freedom

Freedom
It gets over you, over you, over you, over you
Freedom
Got to get you some of that freedom
It's a smile you can get when your heart beat

I love myself some Jason Mraz. He appeals to the crazy, hippie living in my soul. He has a spirit of activism, taking care of our Earth and taking care of all the people who live on it. He loves life; he loves people. I know these things because I read his blog. Does that make me a bit of a freak? Yes? OK, fine, I can embrace that.

Today, I'm giving away a copy of his new EP,  Life is Good, which came out on Tuesday.

Just reply to this post, let me know what makes your life good. Comments will be taken until 1:00pm tomorrow (Friday). The randomly selected winner will need to email me his or her email address, so I can send you the album via the interwebs and iTunes. You don't use iTunes? Do you live under a rock? ( :

My life is good because I am surrounded by love from family, friends and church.

Random.org selected winner #5!! 

EMILY, you are now a proud owner of 

Jason Mraz's, Life is Good! ( :

Sing Me to Heaven

(If for some reason that won't work, does it work? Here's a video.)


In my heart's sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poets' gloss
Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute
In response to aching silence, memory summons half-heard voices
And my soul finds primal eloquence, and wraps me in song

If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby
If you would win my heart, sing me a love song
If you would mourn me and bring me to God,
sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven

Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure
Touch in me grief and comfort, love and passion, pain and pleasure
Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem
Love me, comfort me, bring me to God

Sing me a love song, sing me to Heaven

Songs

I can't get enough of Ingrid Michaelson.

Therefore I will share with you.






I hope you like them too!
(And if you don't I'll talk about baseball someday. Because people who don't like Ingrid must like baseball right? I'm so logical.)

Sometimes a girl just wants to get away...

I feel that my emotions right now can best be expressed through song and interpretive dance. Since I'm not making a video because I'm lazy, you can do the interpretive dancing if you like and pretend like I'm with you.

Go ahead. I won't laugh.

Far Away

Ingrid Michaelson

I will live my life as a lobsterman's wife on an island in the blue bay
He will take care of me, he will smell like the sea,
And close to my heart he'll always stay

I will bear three girls all with strawberry curls, little Ella and Nelly and Faye (side note from Amy: ginger babies? YES PLEASE! I promise to invest in sunscreen.)
While I'm combing their hair, I will catch his warm stare
On our island in the blue bay

Far away far away, I want to go far away
To a new life on a new shore line
Where the water is blue and the people are new
To another island, in another life

There's a boy next to me and he never will be anything but a boy at the bar
And I think he's the tops, he's where everything stops
How I love to love him from afar

When he walks right pass me then I finally see on this bar stool I can't stay
So I'm taking my frown to a far distant town
On an island in the blue bay.

Far away far away, I want to go far away
To a new life on a new shore line
Where the water is blue and the people are new
To another island, in another life
I want to go far away
Away away, I want to go far away, away, away
I want to go far away, far away

Where the water is blue and the people are new
To another life, to another life
To another shoreline, in another life

In other news...I have yet to receive one submission from ANYONE! Can you believe it? You must be waiting for some more encouragement to say good things about yourself! Here are some words you might use to tell me about what you love about you: beautiful, brilliant, aesthetically pleasing, radiant, stunning, cute, powerful, strong, curvy, brave, talented, bootylicious, smart, excellent, capable, gifted, luxurious, sexy, creative, empathetic, artistic, friendly, fast, thoughtful....just to name a few. Send me an e-mail! (If you have no idea what I'm talking about please read this post! [The one right below this one!] DO IT! BE BRAVE! BE BOLD!)

Musician?

I watched this video.

(I will put a bit of a language warning out there on this one[especially after my earlier post about disliking the f-bomb, oh the irony]...sorry Mom.)

Then I decided I want to marry a musician.

Preferably a good one. 

Thanks.

I know you're still passing out my email ever since my plea for help.

Really? You're not? No, I didn't notice my completely empty inbox.

You don't know anyone with whom you'd like to introduce me? Well...BOO.