bettysoo's ramblings

The Unbearable Weight of Our Grievances

2010-08-11T15:23:00.002-05:00

Over a pan of cooking eggs, I started thinking about the term “pet peeve,” and that’s what started me on the path to conviction. If any of you has as many of them as I do, perhaps they are no longer pets. Perhaps we are unwittingly running farms of discontent. I live in a small 1955 house in central Austin. I lived here when I was single, and for the past six years, I’ve enjoyed the additional company of two pets: a cat and a husband. Any more furry companions, and it would be one crowded house. However, when it comes to annoyances (some of them surprisingly and inexplicably specific), I can often be the crazy cat lady whose house you can sniff out a block away.

As I read the digests of some listserves, I find myself cheering, booing, saying, “yeah!” or “aw, come on…” out loud to my computer screen. A couple years of this has finally led to conviction one morning. In my resonance and disagreement with posts I’ve read, I’ve recognized I have more pet peeves than one person should ever possess. I won’t even start to enumerate them here, since I know 1) it will tempt too many of you to have those same (yeah! or aw…) responses I have and 2) they will irk me all over again, just thinking about them.

The thing is, I fear these small acts that make me wince really carry the same burden as some more serious wrongs committed against me in the past – some of which I’m sad to say I haven’t fully forgiven. The wrongdoer may not continue to carry those burdens, but in my resentment, I do. And I have enough on my shoulders without that added weight.

I know everybody has an axe to grind (but does it need to be in public? Can we find a private shed?), and I know sometimes we have questions we pose out of innocent curiosity, which we hope someone else on the listserve can answer. But may I suggest (out of pure selfish desire - and for my soul’s preservation) that before any among us shoots off quick responses triggered purely out of annoyance, s/he take a second to ask if it’s really contributing to the collective knowledgebase? This is to say, responses totaling, “Yeah, that annoys the heck out of me, argh!” might not qualify as a contribution to the greater good…

Okay, I know I will annoy some people simply by posting this. I might even inspire anger in others. This isn't meant to point a finger as much as it is meant to share my recognition of my own weaknesses. Also, I know someone is bound to ask me for at least one pet peeve, so I’ll give in: Replies to the listserve digest that include the entire digest so you have to scroll 3 pages to get to the next message. God, save me.

On a lighter parting note, a friend once told me, "Nothing ticks me off more than negativity!"

May updates - see you on the road!

2010-05-05T15:25:00.002-05:00

What a cool year already. I'm having more fun playing with the guys in my band than I ever have. And that goes for my Willing Company in Austin (Will, Plank, Dave, Paul, and Todd) as well as for the Stately Ladies in NYC (Rico, Jagoda, and Matt). It's an incredible feeling to stand on a stage and be pushed as a musician in the company of great friends and to play for such appreciative and encouraging audiences. I still say I have the best job in the world.

May is going to be busy, busy... I'll be on the road most of the month: first to the west coast for a date in Felton, CA (near San Jose) at Don Quixote's then to New York City and down the east coast back to home sweet home...Kerrville.

If I'm going to be anywhere near your town, I'd love to see you. It would be so wonderful to see friendly faces in the crowd. Here are my dates for May:

9 - Felton, CA - with Rich Feridun

13 - New York, NY - with Rich Feridun, Jagoda, and Jeremy Chatzsky

14 - New York, NY - with Rich Feridun and Jagoda

15 - Titusville, NJ - co-bill with the Kennedys, Anthony Dacosta, and Seth Glier

16 - Easton, MD - with Finlay Morton & Sharif

18 - Raleigh, NC - solo show

20 - Nashville, TN - solo show

21 - Birmingham, AL - co-bill with Jeff Talmadge

22 - Memphis, TN - house concert, solo show

23 - Brownsville, TN - house concert, solo show

25 - Boerne, TX - radio show with live audience

29 - Kerrville, TX - with Will Sexton, Jeff Plankenhorn, Mail Man Dave, and Paul Prestridge

2009 Wrap-up... just moving it to the blog page.

2010-05-05T15:16:00.002-05:00

Okay, it was time to update the "news" section of my website, so this 2009 wrap up is long overdue in its move to the blog page.

2009 has been a great year, and I am so grateful...

Since the album came out, it's been a flurry of activity for me this summer and fall. The west coast tour was so wonderful - what an honor to play for so many new listeners. I am convinced I have the very best job in the world. I also had the opportunity to work with top-notch folks - like Gurf, on the record, my band at so many shows, amazing sound technicians, my radio promoter Jenni, publicist Natalie, and new to my team: booking agent Nancy Fly. (And don't forget, I had a dream gig opening for the incredible Joan Baez!)

The Americana Music Association Conference was a great experience, and I loved meeting so many new (to me) artists and biz folks. Of course, it was also a great time to hear lots of old favorites... A special thanks to Pigeon O'Brien for showcasing me at her annual Posse Party at BB King's.

Mountain Stage was also great - What an honor to be among the winners of the Mountain Stage New Song Contest. It was a thrill to perform for such a rapt and generous audience.

Then of course, Europe... Our three-week tour through Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands was amazing in every way. So many new friends, incredible hospitality, gracious listeners, and countless magical musical moments. I'll never forget this first tour in continental Europe - and I hope I get to return sooner than later! One of my favorite aspects? Learning to be a better sideman! I had to get way out of my comfort zone and take leads on the guitar and accordion to compliment Abi Tapia and Charlie Faye during their turns to lead songs - and it was so stretching and exciting as a musician.

I was also incredibly honored to be on this year's KGSR Broadcasts CD set - Volume 17. It has been Jody Denberg's labor of love for so many years - and to be on the last one he produced is incredibly humbling to me. To be on it at all is a thrill - but to be on his parting project is a special thrill. It's only $15 for 2 CDs of exclusive live material - get your copy at Waterloo Records in Austin, TX before they sell out - and they always do. The proceeds benefit the Sims Foundation, which helps Austin musicians receive mental wellness care when they need it.

2010 is shaping up to promise lots of great new adventures, including tons of fun shows in the works, the Folk Alliance conference in Memphis (where I have an official showcase. Yippee!), teaching at the Acoustic Alaska Guitar Camp (no - don't worry, no one's gonna expect me to teach anyone how to shred nasty-cool solos. I'll stick to subjects I know something about - songs and singing. ha ha...), and I'll also return to Sisters Folk Fest in Oregon next fall to teach at the Song Academy as well as to perform during the festival weekend.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled also for some great tour-pairings. I'm making some fun touring plans with some friends...so there ought to be some interesting co-bill shows for you to consider.

* WINNER * Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, Sisters, OR

* WINNER * Mountain Stage Newsong Songwriting Competition, Charleston, WV

* 2009 Performer *

International Folk Alliance Conference (official showcase)

Old Settler's Music Festival

Wildflower Festival

Kerrville Folk Festival

Big Top Chautauqua (in support of Joan Baez)

And 2009 was a great year to be in the studio! I'm overjoyed that my third full-length studio album emerged this year, produced by Gurf Morlix! Gurf's a first-rate human being, with gifted ears and guitar-picking fingers too. You can hear his work on his own records, Slaid Cleaves' records, Mary Gauthier's, Lucinda Williams' ...lots of others' too. I am so honored to have worked alongside a guy as cool as Gurf.

Thanks to Margaret Moser (Austin Chronicle), Michael Corcoran (Austin American-Statesman), Tom Buckley and Richard Skanse (Texas Music), Tom Geddie, and countless others for your kind reviews... Thanks also to independent radio music directors who have played our music and made us feel famous.

Save the Cactus Cafe

2010-04-07T13:19:00.001-05:00

Like many of my friends, I have been deeply disturbed by the nature of the dialog surrounding the impending fate of the Cactus Cafe - my
favorite listening room in Austin. There's too much to post here about the recent history of what is going on, but I wanted to let you know where I
stand on the issue... this is a brief statement I put today on the UT website where they have invited comments on the decision. I also encourage
you to visit the site and read my friend Tiffany Walker's amazing argument: https://blogs.utexas.edu/cactuscafe/2010/04/06/hello-
world/#comments

Here is what I posted today:

As a graduate of UT Austin (and former academic and athletic scholarship recipient) as well as a working Austin musician, it pains me to see the
Cactus Cafe in any need of defense. The value of this historic venue seems self-evident; unfortunately, that seems not to be the case.

It seems strange to me that I went to the University of Texas to build skills and maturity for a career - and the two things on her 40 acres that most
contributed to the career I have are in danger: The Cactus Cafe - which builds artists' careers rather than focusing on the bottom line one night
at a time, and the Informal Class I took on songwriting that gave me the initial confidence I needed to pen my own songs.

For such a small budget deficit, it seems ludicrous for the University to end such important connections to the surrounding community. How many
part-time jobs will be lost due to the demise of the Informal Class program? I'm sure there are other ways to make up the budget shortfall that will
adversely affect fewer pocketbooks.

As for the Cactus Cafe - what more can be said than has already been said? It is the greatest listening room in town. Despite the University's
refusal to support it with parking or accessible load-in areas and a host of other conveniences, it has continued to receive accolades - not just in
our fair city but across the nation and abroad. And despite personal and petty disagreements and grudges that I suspect are behind its current
threatened existence, I doubt this reputation would be what it is without the longtime dedication of its current staff and management.

I have already heard from many personal friends who are alumni of the University who have made it clear that these recent announcements from
the Union - and the records as they became public - have negatively impacted their desire to continue giving to the University now and in the
future. I wonder: has the school's administration considered the potential loss in financial support from alumni as it has presented poor proposal
after poor proposal and shown itself not able to act or speak in good faith?

New Year, New Resolutions

2010-01-02T00:15:00.001-06:00

I've started thinking about resolutions for the new year, but I
haven't had a chance to fully gather my thoughts on them yet. I know,
that sounds so contrary to the whole notion: procrastinating on new
year's resolutions. But honestly, I need to sit down and have some
alone-time to think about how I'd like this next year to be
remembered, what I'd like to achieve, how I want to grow.

Growing up, my mother always had us sit down and write 3-5
resolutions. We were told to think about it seriously for the last
couple weeks of the year. We were supposed to think about how we
wanted to be different from how we were the previous year - or how we
might continue improving in areas of life that needed work.

Our resolutions were supposed to aim high while being reasonable,
measurable, achievable. We were mostly encouraged to make resolutions
about practices that affected our character more than anything else.

So often, I think of wise words from my friend Kathy shared with me
years ago. I remember telling her how frustrated I was with myself -
that the same character and personality flaws I've always hated about
myself since I was a child persisted despite all my desire to change.
Her response? We may not be all we wish we were, but thank god we are
not who we once were.

And it's true. I have only to look at myself 5 years ago and think of
the ways I know I've grown since then to know it's true. I may feel
unchanged, but I'm not.

So I'm thinking about this year ahead and how I'd like to look back at
it five years from now. I want to say, "yes, that changed for me that
year; I made a resolution." Of course, I don't want them to be binding
oaths that keep me from being free and flexible. But I'd like them to
be meaningful and memorable. Let's see how I do.

Reading for pleasure

2009-12-23T00:10:00.000-06:00

I'm reading Anna Karenina. Again. Well, not exactly "again"... I pick
up where I left off every time I'm at mom & daddy's house. It's so
good I always think, "how did I ever put this down?!" But I do. Every
time I leave.

I guess at their house, I relax a little more than almost anywhere
else. The unfortunate aspect of working from my home is that I never
leave the office. I can become so engaged all the time that I end up
working way too many hours in a day.

On other fronts of the mom & daddy's house vacation landscape, I think
I've gained about 5 pounds in 3 days from all the delicious Korean
food my grandma's been dishing my way. So amazingly delicious!!

Already jaded?

2009-12-12T16:16:00.001-06:00

So update on my life from the past few hours: this flight is annoying. At least I have a pleasant rowmate. AND at least I got to carry my guitar on, no problem. Maybe after the whole "United Breaks Guitars" YouTube debacle, they're extra conscious. Who knows? Okay so I'm thankful for those things.

Anyway, my flight didn't BOARD until 1pm - we were supposed to depart at 11:45. And they haven't made a single announcement about why they were delayed or what time they anticipate our landing. There wasn't even anyone at our gate until 12:50. So that is frustrating too. Oh well.

On a more personal level, I drank a whole can of cranapple and need to pee like a caged dog. But they keep running into pockets of turbulence, so we're all chained to our seats. Of all things to drink and not be able to pee...Cranapple!! Why? Why?

When we boarded the plane, they announced someone with a peanut allergy was on board, and they needed to know if anyone brought any peanut products onto the plane. If you had any nuts or nut products, you needed to ring your call button to alert a flight attendant. An older woman a row ahead of me anxiously rang while grasping her (delicious looking) Mrs. Mays snack bag.

That must be one serious allergic reaction. You can't be on the same plane with peanuts?! It's an airplane! You were just in an airport! It's like peanut Mecca in there! Okay, in all seriousness, I'm sure there was a parent preventing the worst case scenario and making sure they weren't seated RIGHT behind someone with an economy-size canister of Planters who might drop some carelessly or offer their clueless (and deathly allergic) toddler a legume of the Knowledge of Good and Evil when the parent accidentally nodded off during the flight.

Which makes also smile... thinking about how the Worst Case Scenario is different for different people. Remember that book made popular years ago, something like the Worst Case Scenario survival handbook? Maybe there should be a series of them like the Dummy instruction manuals, based on different people's fears and legitimate (though circumstancial or specific) concerns. Like the Worst Case Scenario Handbook for thr Incontinent. I could almost use that one for pointers now.

Holiday Thoughts

2009-12-12T14:33:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving was a wonderful time for me with my family in Houston.
I'm always grateful for the time I get to spend with each of my
sisters, my parents, and grandmother, as well as cousins and other
extended family.

When I allow myself to think about it, I know I'm not pursuing the
career any of them envisioned for me. Considering that - and the fact
that I'm not in the securest line of work - I am so thankful for their
support and love.

If you come to a show in Houston, you're sure to spy my mom, daddy,
and probably my younger sister there. Every time. Which is amazing, I
know.

All this to say, there's so much to be thankful for. But the
relationships with those who love us despite how well they really know
us - including our broken histories and darker demons - seem
miraculous. Perhaps my Thanksgiving musings are a couple weeks late...
Honestly, I'm surprised I got 'em in before Christmas hit. And I'm
glad I've got these thankful thoughts on my mind before the next
family gathering.

Who would you change seats for?

2009-09-15T10:30:00.001-05:00

I boarded a plane this morning, headed from home to Nashville for the
Americana Music Conference this week. As I put my guitar in the
overhead bin, I dropped my phone on the shoulder of the woman who
would be seated in front of me. She was comfortably settled in, and I
felt so awkward and sorry for bonking her with this brick.

I got settled in too. Then Patty Griffin walked by. Cool, right?

Well, then the funniest thing happened. The woman I bonked did the
most violent double take, stared at Patty walking away down the aisle,
grabbed her bags, and hurriedly changed seats to sit by her. Really.

So here's the question. If you were comfortably settled in, who would
have to walk by on your flight to cause you to grab your stuff and
move?

Airport life lessons

2009-08-09T18:30:00.001-05:00

I aimed the phone to protect the innocent... But yes, this family had
eight kids. Well-behaved kiddos but still eight kids. With a hot mom
who looked about five years older and the same size as her teenage
daughter.

And here's life lesson #1: even if you're young and energetic and your
kids are good kids, it's still a freaking lot of kids. And they're
loud, even if each one is using his or her "inside voice." And they
cost a ton of money. Poor dad had to take the kids in three trips to
the vending machines just to keep it manageable, and he probably spent
thirty bucks on fritos and skittles.

Lesson #2: people are gonna stare and try to figure out the
mathematics of what is essentially none of their business. I certainly
did. This goes beyond the kids. Anything unusual? Gonna stare. Or keep
looking back. Kinda like when I was in Wisconsin in a small town and
people spoke really slowly to me.

Lesson #3: don't trust the "house specialties" in an airport
restaurant. Be prepared to be as disappointed as ever. It's still
airport food. I was telling this to a friend of mine, and he said
"that's why people eat at McDonalds - all they sell is consistency. Oh
well, that's not true, their fries are delicious."

Arizona

2009-08-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

I love this place. I'm spoiled by the scenery.

Wide open spaces

2009-07-31T23:34:00.000-05:00

Charlie Faye and I are trekking in my little orange car to make our
way to Salt Lake City by Saturday. It's a lot of miles. But the
conversation is stimulating, and the view is gorgeous, as you can see!

This is a photo Charlie captured after I forced her to take a picture.
Am I a mean, bossy driver? Maybe. I just wanted to share New Mexico
with y'all...

roach motel. seriously.

2009-07-11T05:06:00.003-05:00

I am trying to be a big girl about this. But I am definitely sleeping in my car. When I reached behind my pillow, um, I felt something. Then in a Maria-like Sound of Music inspired move, I jumped out of bed and threw back the covers...

and a roach ran out. Yes, really. There were other creepy crawlies in there too. :-(

I wanted to cry a little bit. But I did not. I closed my suitcase, made sure my toothbrush was zipped away, brought my personal pillow out to the car, folded the seats appropriately, and made myself a little bed. Yes, I did.

Sorry if I'm having a bit of a pity party. I'm okay. But I'm tired. And I keep feeling phantom bugs crawling on me. Tomorrow will be a better day. At least my guitar is in air conditioning.

15 songs. I just said I wasn't gonna do this.

2009-07-03T13:06:00.005-05:00

I just got off the phone this morning and said I wasn't going to do any of these danged Facebook survey things because I don't have the time for them. Not only that, I said I wasn't going to do THIS one specifically. And then I got tagged on it a couple of times, and I got curious what would come up for me...and I did it.

Dang it. I'm such a SUCKER. Ah well...so here goes. It's called "Get in the Mix."

I'm not going to tell you to do it and tag me or tag "x" number of people or anything. But here's what the instructions were, and I followed them. If you want to do it too, feel free. There's a part of me that doesn't believe people are really interested in what I'm listening to, but oh well... it's lunch break time anyway.

So you'll notice, I put way more than the first 15 songs on here. Like maybe double that. Because I was so curious...ugh. I know, I know, I just became one of those annoying people who not only sends on the forward survey, I can't even stick to the rules. Blech. I annoy myself.

Whatev.

(1) Turn on your MP3 player/iTunes/etc.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) Write down the first 15 songs that come up--song title and artist --NO editing/cheating, please.
(4) Choose some people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you.

If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about your musical tastes, or at least a random sampling thereof. (To do this, go to "NOTES" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, enter your 15 Shuffle Songs, Click 'Preview' below to tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click Publish, the little blue box at the bottom of your screen).

So here are mine...

Song Title / Artist

1. Broken Things / Julie Miller
2. Agua De Beber / Antonio Carlos Jobim
3. That's Life / Frank Sinatra
4. Cocaine Blues / Woody Guthrie
5. Si Si No No / Machito & His Afro Cuban Orchestra
6. Blanket / Gurf Morlix
7. Solsbury Hill / Peter Gabriel
8. Record Lady / Lyle Lovett
9. Hide the Bone / Prince
10. Shine on You Crazy Diamond / Pink Floyd
11. If You Don't Take the Medicine / Randy Weeks
12. Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 30 E Maj. Op. 109, 3rd Mvmt / Maurizio Pollini
13. Here in the Real World / Alan Jackson
14. Just Another Lover / BettySoo (oh my gosh, weird. Why am I in the playlist??)
15. Stravinsky Rite of Spring, Scene III / London Philharmonic w/ Bernard Haitink
16. Nuevas Senoritas / The Indigo Girls
17. Ain't No More Cane / Lyle Lovett
18. Anybody Seen my Baby? / The Rolling Stones
19. Can't Lose Them All / Kim Richey
20. Kamera / Wilco
21. Skinny Legs / Lyle Lovett
22. Shattered / The Rolling Stones
23. Lonesome Whistle / BettySoo (weird. I'm on here again.)
24. Not What I Had in Mind / Kelly Willis
25. Pot of Gold / Robby Hecht
26. If it be Your Will / Leonard Cohen
27. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby / Alison Krauss
28. These Blues / Jimmy LaFave
29. More of a Man / Andy Gullahorn
30. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues / The White Stripes

lalalalalaaaaa... lots of fun music. Why don't I listen to more of this more often? Oh yeah, I'm WORKING.

Priorities

2009-06-24T15:38:00.003-05:00

I'm working in my dining room. If I look peaceful in this picture, don't be fooled. My stuff is in haphazard piles and tumbling occasionally to the floor. I am here because my office has become too chaotic for work. I am slowly transforming my house into what looks like a FEMA disaster area. And there are too many specific tasks associated with every slip of paper and every scrap of what looks like trash to be able to ask anyone to help. What I need is more hours to get things done in a day...and for an insomniac with more than a tad bit of workaholism, that's a tall order.

I'm realizing these things about myself lately - the workaholism, my lifelong inability to stay organized, the need for control over the details in my career and life in general, my craving to hit the road and play show after show, and my desire to enjoy the innumerable hobbies I've been neglecting...and how those things are not compatible.

Probably 11 or 12 years ago, my college pastor gave me an article to read: "The Tyranny of the Urgent" by Charles Hummel. It mentions how a cotton mill manager once told him that he was allowing the urgent tasks in his life crowd out time for the things which were actually important. I've thought about this countless times in the years since, and while I know this still happens, it's less the problem. Nowadays, my life and time are crowded by things which are actually important, but I'm not always wise in determining with long-range focus which are the MOST important RIGHT NOW.

Priorities. My good friend Amy was telling me the other day that in your twenties you're figuring out what is important to you, and you spend your thirties learning to prioritize them. She is one of the wisest and most compassionate friends I know. And I think I see she's right (per usual). Now, at 30, I realize that I have recently grasped what I want to spend my time on, but I haven't figured out in what order. I guess I've got about 9 years to learn.

The cover? Really???

2009-06-18T02:35:00.006-05:00

For once in my life (those who know me will attest to the rareness of
this...) I am speechless. Shocked. I had no idea!!

edit 6/24: I now have linked the photo to the article by Margaret Moser so you can read it!

Cover Girl

2009-06-12T15:58:00.002-05:00

Some of you may recall that when I was taking pre-orders for Heat Sin
Water Skin, one upgrade option was to receive a frameable version of
the album cover art.

They're almost done...half of me is immensely satisfied by having a
venture in the visual rather than musical arts for a change. The other
half of me is repeating to herself, "What were you thinking?!?!"

I gotta admit, though...they're cool!

Texas is a beautiful, beautiful state

2009-06-10T22:01:00.001-05:00

This was part of my drive to Possum Kingdom Lake. Heavenly.

I Will Not Speed

2009-05-10T00:40:00.001-05:00

Or whatever reason, this text didn't post to my blog. So I'm trying
again as a separate post...

Re: not speeding - Okay I probably won't keep that promise. But
defensive driving took a lifetime, and I don't ever want to do that
again. So I guess the deterrent of massive expense and time lost in
the long run...is working.

Police and courts are apparently pretty smart.

And I have a lead foot, so I'm apparently pretty dumb.

I Will Not Speed

2009-05-09T21:52:00.002-05:00

Breakfast Song

2009-05-08T09:41:00.003-05:00

Those of you who know me know that I love to eat breakfast. I love to eat big, big, hearty, savory, dinner-like breakfasts. So I don't know if the message of this video should bring people hope or deep depression about the afterlife.

No mo beef stew? No mo pork chops? No mo sugar & rice? At least he didn't say no more pickled chili curry. Because I will still want to eat that for breakfast in heaven.

Empty Bowls

2009-05-03T18:04:00.003-05:00

This afternoon, I went to ClayWays to make some bowls for the Empty Bowl Project - which is always the Sunday before Thanksgiving here in Austin, held last year and this fall (its 13th year!) at the Mexican American Cultural Center on River Street downtown.

No, they didn't put me in front of a wheel - they're way too smart for that. But I did make some pretty cute bowls to raise some money for the Capital Area Food Bank. And they sent me home with this 25 pound hunk of clay - to make more at home! Yippeee! I will be posting pictures of the bowls as they are formed.

I can't wait. Only 198 days to go. And I'll be performing there at some point in the afternoon, so be sure to swing by, pick a bowl, pick a soup, and listen to great local music. And by great, I mean me. Just kidding, folks, KIDDING...gosh!

Whoa nelly! Sleep studies are serious business!

2009-04-22T22:08:00.001-05:00

Look at all the stuff attached to me! And some over my heart, some all
over the back of my head, some on my legs. Hope I can sleep with all
this stuff on me!

Old Settler's Music Fest

2009-04-21T00:42:00.001-05:00

A fantastic time. So fun to play with friends Jenny Reynolds and Ben
Mallott - especially closing the set with The Return of the Grievous
Angel.

But also REALLY fun meeting new friends, like Spen here...

return of the 80's

2009-04-13T19:34:00.002-05:00

just thought i would share...i didn't even realize until i was sitting here working - how 80's i looked while jogging today. it's scary.

...and yes, leggings were involved.

The Blue Door

2009-04-09T10:44:00.002-05:00

So happy to play the Blue Door last night. Greg is one of the sweetest, most hilarious, fun and gracious guys in the biz. He's there for the songs and the musicians and the listeners, not for any of the stuff that distracts from the music. I know Charlie Faye fell in love with playing there last night. I wish I could be here all the time. I may be a stranger in OKC, but the Blue Door feels a lot like home.

Sam Houston

2009-04-09T10:39:00.005-05:00

Driving from Houston to Oklahoma City, Charlie Faye snapped a photo of this icon from my childhood...we saw him every time we went to high school graduation each spring. He's actual size. Okay, maybe he's a little bigger than that. Like 20% bigger than actual size. I'm convinced those must be mini-trees.

Everything is coming up roses

2009-04-08T08:53:00.001-05:00

I am so happy my roses are blooming. I got to enjoy them for about 15 minutes before leaving town again, but it was worth it.

Gave some to my mom in Houston, my inspiration for growing them in the first place. I'll never forget the roses she grew when I was a kid. Look how pretty she is!

Sean's Song

2009-04-01T23:14:00.006-05:00

In fond memory of Sean Ervin

Pouring sugar in your coffee
Stains left on your paper plate
See the bands around your wrist
See the outline of your face

I see the yellow of your hair
See the gentleness of your smile
I see the road's curve in my mind
And you flying by

I knew you such a brief sweet breath
Still in your dawn
What I'd give to sit with you again
I'd stay a little long - a little longer than I did
The last time that I saw you
Days before I heard you were gone

I remember things I said
I wish I never had
I remember ways I put you down
Ways I made you sad

I remember how you laughed
Like it never really pained you
And no one can recall
A single time that you complained

I knew you such a brief sweet breath
Still in your dawn
What I'd give to sit with you again
I'd stay a little long - a little longer than I did
The last time that I saw you
Days before I heard you were gone

Sean

2009-03-30T23:13:00.002-05:00

I lost a very sweet friend last night. Like everyone who knew him, I am completely heartbroken.

Sweet, sweet Sean, we already miss you.

Ahrre's coffee

2009-03-30T00:46:00.001-05:00

Here is my sweet friend and host for (most of) the week at his coffee
roastery. Live in northern Jersey or near NYC? Visit him! 104 Elm St.
in Westfield. http://www.ahrre.com

Photo...hmm...

2009-03-28T08:35:00.002-05:00

Don't know what happened there, but things get tangly when you're
blogging via phone. Here's the photo!

Favorite sxsw picture

2009-03-28T08:29:00.002-05:00

Me, Tish Hinojosa, Will T. Massey.

Photo by Valerie Fremin. Thanks Val!! This was at that great vintage
shop Amelia's now on South 1st St.

In case anyone's interested, I'm going to open a show for Tish in the
Woodlands at the end of May. Fun!!

Shoreline Grill

2009-03-27T14:16:00.001-05:00

Mmmm this is definitely one of my favorite places in the world!!

Prosciutto-wrapped giant gulf shrimp stuffed with goat cheese and
basil with mashed potatoes in cream sauce with wilted spinach and
(garlic?) chives.

Okay, I think about food a lot.

taco tour, cont.

2009-03-25T09:40:00.005-05:00

It was a return trip to Las Cazuelas as we revisit some of the best of the tour thus far. A little disappointing, I have to admit.

First, the good stuff: the jukebox was a little quieter as opposed to deafening. The food was still really, really delicious (exceptions noted below...). The waitress was pleasant, kind, helpful - note: you have to speak Spanish here.

The downside: they were out of horchata. And chorizo. The red salsa tasted like dirt - I remember it being really good last time. The food took so long that some of it was piping hot but my tacos were cold - almost refrigerator cold. The coffee was miserable and weak.

When we revisted La Cocina de Consuela a few weeks ago, however, that was a totally different story. La Cocina may still be at the top of the list for me. If you've never been, go NOW.

The drag race

2009-03-24T01:22:00.001-05:00

Tonight I was introduced to a new show. My sweet friend Abi is in town for the week, and she took me to a viewing party for RuPaul's Drag Race. Very entertaining.

A little sad that the final determining competition was a lip-sync off to a RuPaul song, but what did you really expect?

While we were all pretty much rooting for Nina, Bebe was a close second in my book. So I'm not overly disappointed. The winner's tiara was a little out of control. But I got to wear my own headgear, courtesy of our gracious hosts.

I look a little tired. I am. I'm not gonna lie. This week has kicked my rear a little bit.

Opal / Harry connection

2009-03-22T22:47:00.002-05:00

I have discovered something very important. Opal Divine is really Harry Potter in drag. I don't know how I feel about this.

We love Will

2009-03-22T20:57:00.002-05:00

Here's Will, playing right now with Mario Escovedo - Alejandro's brother.

Adam falls

2009-03-22T19:54:00.001-05:00

Holmes fell for the temptation. I led him to the tainted food, and he
succumbed.

Adam's rib

2009-03-22T19:44:00.001-05:00

So Holmes and I were partying southeast Austin style. There were short ribs on the bbq, but we didn't get one in time. By the way, I had no idea my dream home was already built out there, but it is.

Amazingly, someone was unable to locate a trash can and abandoned their half-eaten rib right in front of us. So I ate it. It was delicious. I ate it down to the bone. And I ain't sorry at all. I gave
Holmes one bite.

Graham Weber is my hero

2009-03-22T00:33:00.002-05:00

I'm speechless. He's beautiful.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman

2009-03-21T19:18:00.001-05:00

Here is the gorgeous Finley with her wonderful portrait of me!

Sonny Throckmorton is my other sweetie

2009-03-21T19:13:00.002-05:00

Here he is...singing "Trying to Love Two Women" Tuesday night at Threadgill's. But I did tell him I couldn't try to love two men and that Dave might not understand.

Hey little cupcake!

2009-03-17T17:33:00.001-05:00

Sweet Reanne, fellow Sxsw volunteer baked and brought cupcakes to share.

Yum!!

Observe and Report

2009-03-16T23:36:00.003-05:00

Oh my gosh. Just watched this movie. So out of control. I have never laughed so hard while being totally shocked saying out loud, "holy crap, did they just do that?!?!"

hair cut?

2009-03-16T16:33:00.009-05:00

I'm toying with the idea of cutting my hair. Not right away - and not committed to it, just toying with it. What do you think?

I've just pulled the long layers out of the left picture here, letting the short layers hang out... I think it could be cute. Yes? No? And comfortable for summer. Too boyish? I know it's messy now b/c it's not actually cut/shaped, but you get the idea.

Anyway, I'm not sold on it just yet, but I've had long hair for a long time now...

Bowling champs

2009-03-16T16:24:00.004-05:00

The Shoveler (aka Will Sexton - not William H Macy) reigned supreme at the bowling alley last night. We knew we were in for trouble when he said, "I'm gonna have to stop by home and pick up my ball..."

He whooped us. As you can see.

I just ate a whole box of these

2009-03-15T01:49:00.007-05:00

The remorse that followed reminded me of something I've known for some time but have trouble heeding - if you want to eat well, you have to subscribe to the "don't buy it diet." But the chips aisle is always the most beautiful aisle in the store. Well, okay, the chips aisle and the candy aisle. Very enticing aisles. And...the frozen ghetto pizza roll aisle. And the ice cream aisle. And the bakery section.

Tonight Gurf had his CD release show at the Cactus - it was a great show, of course, tons of people, mostly cheery happy funny songs. Just kidding about the cheery happy funny part. Although he did do this Blaze Foley hitchhiking song that was super hilarious. Lots of great stories, Ray Bonneville played some incredible harmonica, and Sam Baker was great. But Sam, how do you feel about me? Okay, sorry, that's only funny to Sam.

One last thing - I just posted a couple of songs from the new album on the MySpace page. Go listen! Tell me what you think! It won't be available for sale for a couple more months, but I'm getting very excited about releasing this album...

taco tour, cont.

2009-03-11T12:08:00.004-05:00

Ahhhh the taco tour.

Some of you who know me know that I have been part of a weekly Austin taco tour - we've been going since early last summer, every week, to a different breakfast taco spot. There are four of us who have visited dozens of different locations.

Starting last week, we have started to re-visit our top half dozen spots, to ensure their staying power at the top of the list, before we begin embarking on more new places. This morning we returned to Mi Madre's on Manor Rd. Even more than I remembered, the tacos were HUGE, stuffed with filling and VERY hot. They were delicious, and the creamy, spicy, green diablo sauce was a hit again. Here are some photos of my wrapped tacos, Sean enjoying one of his tacos, and my machacado with egg taco. Delicious.

jogging again??

2009-03-08T22:31:00.005-05:00

seriously...what's going on? someone with some insight call me and tell me why i'm so wound up. i'm sure someone out there knows...

but i went jogging again today! just really, really felt like it. so weird. i feel like i don't even know myself. another 3 miles, still a comfy 10 or so minute pace...

slightly painful but it also felt good. weird.

last night, this morning, and daylight savings

2009-03-08T17:24:00.001-05:00

Last night was so great - the Townes Van Zandt tribute at the Cactus was packed per usual, with tons of folks lined up waiting to get in - and then waiting through the first set hoping to get in for the second. I sang "Squash" (thanks to the helpful choir!) and "When She Don't Need Me" (the song from yesterday's video). Butch Hancock hosted - and he was wonderful as always. David Garza was breathtaking, Michael Fracasso stirring, Graham Weber completely charming. Aimee was beautiful...everyone was great. It was an enchanting concert overall. But by the time I was driving home, it was 1:30 in the morning...pre-daylight savings.

Overslept - but didn't know it because I forgot to set my watch ahead. Missed early church but made it to a later service.

I'm so tired.

In happier news, I took the electric scooter for a ride this afternoon - first time in a while! It made me very, very happy.

Townes Van Zandt birthday

2009-03-07T17:36:00.001-06:00

I made this little video of "When She Don't Need Me" this afternoon in honor of Townes Van Zandt's birthday today - hope I get to sing it tonight. See y'all at the Cactus.

jogging

2009-03-07T11:23:00.000-06:00

I went jogging for the first time in years. YEARS. I was wound up - I don't know, woke up that way.

I used to jog a lot. A lot. I did lots of 5Ks, 10Ks, did some half marathons, pounded pavement. And then one morning, I was doing a run with my running group and it dawned on me: I don't enjoy this. So I up and quit - right then. I know, weird.

But then the past couple weeks, I felt the urge to go run, but it was always at bad times. This morning, felt it again, ran. 3 miles around town lake, about 10 minutes/mile. I was proud of that, even though lots and lots of faster people were passing me.

Woody was out there singing, dogs were swimming, the wind was blowing - it was a perfect day for a jog. There was some energy drink stand out there giving samples, and only the walkers were taking it. I wonder what that means. There were even some really nice people scrubbing the bird poop off of the railing on the bridge near Austin High. I thought, wow, that's great, how humble, they're probably getting it all over their hands and under their nails, that's nice. I don't want to do that - and they probably don't either, but there they are, and I appreciate them. And now people don't have to be scared of touching the railings, so it's very kind of them...even though it bugs me when too many people are crowded on the bridge holding onto the railings and stretching and blocking the path. And just then when I ran by, I felt some of the bird poop juice fling from the scrub brush to my leg. Niiiiiice.

Had my music strapped to my wrist by a very lovely blue sweatband, which came in handy as a strap and also, truly, as a sweatband. When I got to the car, I noticed that my face was covered in dark blue fuzz.

first home video ever

2009-03-06T11:46:00.000-06:00

so...i made my first home music video ever. Click the photo to see...Now, it's very casual, nothing amazing. Pretty off the cuff - so don't have high expectations. And it's my first time. Be kind.

old blog posts...

2009-03-05T11:55:00.000-06:00

If you want to see old blog posts, visit my MySpace blog. I left it idle so long, I knew I needed an easier way to do this. So I started this one instead. But if you click on the brainy face, you'll find my old MySpace blog. This is only for those who are insatiably curious with too much time on their hands.