Why i Fall for Music City

Just another quick update on what this fall has held for me. As always, one of the things that i adore about living in this city is the music. Music everywhere, of all kinds, in an incredible variety of venues. Amazing.

These have been some of my favourite shows this fall:


[Katie Herzig at 3rd & Lindsley]

She's got an amazing voice. And style. And band. She plays to my soul.


[Plain White T's at The Ryman]

i have to say not my favourite show. They were fun, but the lead singer was . . .eh.


[Snow Patrol at The Ryman]

One word: AMAZING. Snow Patrol is entwined with the beat of my heart.


[Mat Kearney at The Cannery]

E and i went to see Mat, and i think it's safe to say that the show was PHENOMENAL.


[Willie Nelson at The Ryman]

Nothing if not entertaining. Willie is an icon, and i'm really glad i got to see him at the Ryman.


[Brett Dennen at The Cannery]

i always love Brett. Can't get enough.

My apologies for the phone photos . . . i have yet to upgrade the camera. Hello, Christmas present?]


Safe to say - it's mutual, Snow Patrol.

The Lion's Share

This fall has been exceptionally busy. i'm hoping to get a small series of posts up on what's kept it that way.

Today's post covers one of my favourite (if time consuming) ways that my fall evenings and Saturday mornings have been spent for the past few years. This year was a little more difficult as it seemed to NEVER. STOP. RAINING.

Seriously.

What was up with ALL THE RAIN this fall? Regardless, i had fun with these little monkeys . . . i mean, Lions.


[Gotta Have That Coffee For the Early AM - Go, Lions, Go!]



[My Little Dears]



[Face Making Fun]


Despite the rain and the eventual cold, it was a wonderful season. i love the time with them, seeing them learn to work together, marveling at their improvement, hearing the parents, and getting the hugs.

Happy Moments for a Friday

This one will be quick because i'm anxious for my weekend to start. However, i wanted to take this moment to list a random handful of happy, happy things for which i am grateful:

My best girl is in town for the weekend after having moved far, far away!

This special and dear little boy is SO CLOSE to being done with chemo!

i am loved to the point of distraction.

i get to see my family VERY soon.

My brother has an upcoming visit to Vandy- woohoo!

i get to see Katie Herzig this weekend.

i get to see and Snow Patrol next weekend!

My friends are kind of a big deal.

Life is good. God is good. All the time.

Contemplations

There's been A LOT going on in life - not the least of which has been a CRAZYPANTS work schedule. i've been absent from the blog while i used my limited personal time to maintain important relationships, say goodbye to a dear friend who has now moved, and work toward nurturing and growing some new relationships.

Life has a way of getting away from you if you don't take the time to properly appreciate it. While i try to focus so much on living life to the fullest and to frequently take the time to reflect, enjoy, and be so very grateful for the fullness of my joy and the contentment in my heart, i'm often guilty of not taking the time to note it (be that in blog or journal format). i do think that it's important to take note. To share. To give thanks.

Tomorrow is an anniversary of sorts for me. It kind of took me by surprise. In some ways, it seems two years have flown by. They've been full of life - joy, pain, travels, new friends and old, visits, reunions, heartbreaks, triumphs . . .
And by the same token, it seems like it should have been a decade by now. My entire life is different. i am different. i've learned lessons about myself, about others, and about life. i've been lifted up by friends and held near by God. i've had the opportunity to share my mess with others - to help them feel less alone, less insane, less of a failure.

The fact is that regardless of whether or not you believe in it, divorce is a fact of this life. Blame it on human nature, society, or "this fallen world" - that's not the important part. The important thing to remember is that divorce breaks people. It's painful and disillusioning and sometimes debilitating. It's the death of a marriage, and we need to remember to love those people who are traveling through that dark place. Love them. Don't talk at them. Love them. Don't drown them in platitudes. Love them. Be there for them and LOVE them.

Writer's Workshop - Visit from Mio Babbo!

Workshop Assignment: What are YOU giddy about?

My recent giddiness all centers around the recent week-long visit from my dad. Only when i uploaded all these pictures did it dawn on me that i did not take one. single. picture. of the two of us from this visit. Thankfully, i have wonderful friends who did:

[Megs & Papa]

Because after he and i made a home improvement run that included the purchase of many, many items including this:

[bags o' mulch & grout]

We met up with these people:

[Birthday Party]

And had a lot of this:

[mexican dinner]

And not a little of this:

[Cake!]

To celebrate this one:

[Birthday Girl]

During the next several days (including a "vacation day" i took this week), we accomplished the following (among other things):
[painted front door]

[door hardware]

While indulging in a lot of this:

[edamame & tempura]

And this:

[sushi]

We also got these things into place:

[wine rack & sign]

[new light fixture]

And had some of this:

[Halli & Megs make pizza]

Before finally accomplishing this:

[my bathroom is tiled!]


And because i was enthralled by another prompt:
Workshop Assignment: Describe what brought you closer to your faith.

i'm linking these old posts:
Because i really do rejoice in my sufferings. They have taught me the true meaning of hope as well as brought me to a deeper faith and a closer relationship through prayer.

For more Writer’s Workshop, go here.

broken (he)art gallery

please
don't make any promises to me
you don't know if you can keep them
and i'm all out of faith
in the words of men

i have enough broken promises
stacked in the closet
stashed under the bed
hidden away in office cabinets
and shelved in the garage
to create a gallery of disappointment

perhaps
i could create lawn art
with the shattered wedding vows
a mosaic of lies and excuses
cemented together with the chalky paste
mixed of pain and betrayal

maybe
i should construct a wall-hanging or two
with the beautiful ghosts of future plans
painted by boyfriends past
woven together with threads of lost interest
and cut short by selfish intentions

possibly
i could papier-mâché the walls of some forlorn room
coating thickly with regret
the compliments and false assurances
before smoothing them over the surfaces
to complete the portrait of façades

i am an artist
with heartbreak as my medium
my supplies are plentiful
and so generously provided
by the benefactors (detractors?)
with whom i have consorted

so, please - don't add to my collection
of broken blues and bruised purples
angry reds and faded once-bright yellows
i have enough to last a lifetime
more than any one could ever utilize

instead - i prefer your honesty
steadfast commitment and trustworthiness
slow and steady wins the race
despite all evidence to the contrary
i. still. hope.

la vita mia è bella

Life is crazy around these parts, y'all. i am afraid that some of the people in my life may very well think that i have fallen off the face of the planet. And indeed, i have felt like it a bit during parts of the past couple of weeks. However, i am here to say, "HELLOOOOOOOOO!!! i'm alive under all this work/email/social calendar/lack of sleep/life change! i really am!"

And i'm really grateful for these people:


[mie amiche di strette]


[i ragazzi]

[mia famiglia]
















[Jessie]

These are just a few of the special, beautiful, brilliant, and LOVED people who make my life crazily, wonderfully, fantastical.

Just wanted to say thanks.