Claire.

Claire (also known affectionately as "Sparkplug"), the little girl I sat babysat for a couple of years in college has graduated high school. She is Samford bound in the fall. That makes me feel just a little...

Old.

Kicking Cancer's...

Summer vacation is here!

What better way to start then by heading out late Saturday to a concert?! Whitney and I went to Exit/In for the Let's Kick Cancer's Ass breast cancer benefit. Cortney Tidwell, HotPipes, and The Features. The Features were why we really went. They have been a local favorite of ours for several years. I was pretty impressed though with the HotPipes.

I got to meet Candace Burnside for whom the proceeds were going to. She is in her 20's like me and just had a mastectomy 5 weeks ago. It looks like chemo might be in her future. Keep fighting!

I got this great poster which will be hanging in my house sometime soon. I just need to decide what room.

The fight against cancer is going strong!

Hello Summer!

And they are gone! At 11:30am Thursday, all precious monsters loaded the buses and went home. School is out for summer!

My summer vacation did not start yet. Friday, I had to attend a 4 hour faculty meeting and get records ready to send to middle school. Last night, I had a technology class. Today, I have technology class. Some time before 5 pm, I will finally be on summer vacation! :)

Graduation

You know it is going to be one of those days when you get 2 phone calls before 7am and you are eating Doritos for breakfast.

Today is 4th grade graduation. This is bigger than my graduation a couple of weeks ago.

Yesterday I created the graduation program, typed script for "nervous" teachers, copied and fold 300 graduation programs, made each teacher an autograph and memory page for each of their students, painted 20 picture frames, and attempted to complete report cards. About 3am, it became just too much and I went to bed.

Tonight I will be sitting on a couch and I dare somebody to ask me to do something. Double dare them.

T minus one hour til showtime.

Music (and Movies!) Saving Mountains

I have been to a lot of concerts... big, small, good, and bad. Last night though blew me away.

Justin and I went to the Ryman to catch NRDC's Music Saving Mountains concert. The concert was given in hopes of spreading the word about the horrors of mountain top removal (also called mountain top mining). The line up was fantastic.

Emmylou Harris (fellow Nashvillean, Graybar neighbor, and founder of Bonaparte's Retreat where I got Socrates... oh yeah, amazing musician) opened the show. She was later joined by Patty Loveless and Kathy Mattea. Kathy has been a mountain spokeswoman for quite awhile. Just when I thought the show was good, it got better.

I fell in love with Big Kenny. I didn't even know who Big Kenny was. (From Big & Rich). Thankfully, this was my first introduction to the man. My new song obsession is "Less Than Whole". I was on the edge of my seat at a concert!

Also, amazing was Brandon Young's "Darling oh Darling", Alison Krauss' version of hymn "I Don't Know About Tomorrow", Patti Griffin (in general), and of course Dave Matthews.

Dave Matthews NEVER gets old. He sang a unique version of "Rye Whiskey."

The concert ended with all of the musicians performing together.

Cannot say enough good things about the evening. I got goosebumps my friends.

Tonight, I went to Movies Saving Mountains at the Belcourt. They showed two documentaries about mountain top removal. After the concert last night, I wanted to know more about what I was in the crowd supporting. The films "Deep Down" and "Coal Country" were quite eye opening and raw. Filmmakers lead a panel discussion after the films and Big Kenny and Kathy Mattea performed again. (I got to hear "Less Than Whole Again"... sweet.)While I will probably not go out and protest with the masses, I am glad I took the time to watch, listen, and become a little more educated about what is going on in my state and area of the country.

I love and respect people using their gifts and talents to draw attention to injustices. Trying to make the world a little better through the arts. It's a good thing.

Good Day Ahead

Today is going to be a good day...

Sunny.

Chocolate milk, warm towel, slept in (on purpose) 15 minutes later than usual, clean Cubs shirt in the morning.

Dog is outside insuring no books will be eaten. (Three in the last 24 hours!)

Chatted with Kim and Dawson, both of whom are coming in town this weekend. (yea!)

Fieldtrip to Centennial Park. (Troublemakers staying at school.)

Going to cook a yummy dinner tonight.

Going to see Dave Matthews and other greats at the Ryman with my favorite.

I NEED this day.

Summer & Music

My favorite season is almost here.... SUMMER!

Summer means patios, porches, long talks with friends, road trips, Vespa excursions, and of course concerts!

Last week my concert season began (thanks to the lovely Katie Mac!) with Barenaked Ladies and Ingrid Michaelson. I grew up listening to BNL in middle school and was ready for that throwback. They played a lot of their newer (and more serious) stuff so I did not know a lot of the songs. However, I LOVED an impromptu version of the bluegrass song "Like A Fox" with a local guy. Ingrid was only disappointing in her chatter about seeing up her dress. Her music... Love it.

On Wednesday, I will be seeing Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, and Dave Matthews for a benefit concert at the Ryman. Most of you know about my obsession with Dave (and band). Can't wait. Truly.

The Features, my favorite local band will play on May 29. It has been awhile since I have seen them. I guess when you hang out and tour with other bands like Kings of Leon, your grassroots beginnings are left behind. The Features are playing for a breast cancer fundraiser. Even better!

Yea Summer!

Also, I thought I would share my "beginning of summer" playlist.

Something Good This Way Comes- Jakob Dylan
New Morning- Alpha Rev
Burning Down The House- DMB (it is a cover)
The Outsiders- Needtobreathe
Everybody- Ingrid Michaelson
Comfortable- John Mayer (how did I just now come across his very first album?!?!)
Crack The Shutters- Snow Patrol
Heart of My Own- Basia Bulat
Young Folks- Peter Bjorn
Brand New Day- Joshua Radin
Litzomania- Phoenix
Daylight- Matt & Kim

My Oh My...

When I moved from my apartment in China, I said I would never have hardwood floors again. I felt like I was always sweeping to keep dust bunnies away. When I found the house I currently live in, was that even a thought? Nope. In fact, I thought "how nice."

When I started looking for a dog, there were two things I was set on. House trained and does not shed. When I found Socrates, did I stand firm? Nope. In fact, I thought "one out of two ain't bad."

This morning as I swept my hardwood floor, I felt queasy. I collected more hair than what is currently on top of my head. Oh so gross. I would have taken a picture, but I thought I would spare you.

Guess I will pay for these mistakes.

However, I am VERY glad Socrates is house trained (minus when Justin comes over) and that I do not have carpet for all this hair to get stuck in.

Guess I should count my blessings.

There is a word that often comes from my lips that fits this whole situation nicely...

"Bless."

:)

A Master of Sorts

I'm a Master! Master of Arts in Teaching English Language Learners. Well, only almost. I still have to turn in and present my action research project. But I walked and received my hood. :)

Graduation was really nice. The alumnus of the year spoke and frankly I was so motivated I wanted to go back to school immediately. It really was excited being hooded.

After graduation, we went to my parents' house to party. The best part of the day was being surrounded by people I love. They even got this fabulous cake! Thanks Mama and Daddy for such a great party.

Flood of 2010: My Neighborhood

Tiffany finally made it back to Nashville with my car yesterday afternoon. We took a walk to see what the flood has done to my neighborhood. I am really blessed.

Here are just a couple of pictures from major streets close to me.

Intersection of Dickerson and Cleveland

We normally can walk to LP Field from my house on this street. Not right now.

Same street, zoomed in.

Flood of 2010

It started out as just another rainy day. I went to Fido's with a bunch of girlfriends to catch up. Tiffany is in town and wanted to go see some family out in Franklin after brunch so she borrowed my car to head South. I came on home and took a little nap. When I woke up, I discovered there was mayhem in Nashville. The Great Flood of 2010.

Water rescues, raging rivers through backyards, etc. all in Nashville! Where I live over in East Nashville has not been bad. Just lots and lots of rain. Constant rain. Some wind.

Poor Socrates is struggling. He has basically been indoors for over 24 hours. He has chewed on everything he can get too including my dresser. Any time the rain lets up, we head out, but it does not last for more than a few minutes.

Rain, rain, go away, Socrates wants to play!

I did have a tiny bit of damage, but nothing compared to so many.

Gutter in back of house was already kind of disconnected from house, but now really is.

This tree is struggling to keep up. It is tied to stakes that I have to go fix anytime rain lets up. Not sure it will make it.

My next door neighbor had some wind damage. Some big limbs fell onto the doghouse.

But we really are lucky. My neighbor took this picture of 8th Ave looking towards downtown and the Farmers Market. Water there is about 10 feet deep at the deepest part. Yikes!

The rain is not expected to stop until around 8pm tonight. School is canceled for tomorrow. Tiffany and my car are still stranded in Franklin. Guess there is nothing for me to, but clean house and work on school stuff.

Ciao, from the city of Nashlantis!