3:08 PM - kerrville
Current mood: blissful
Category: Life

Well, Kerrville was amazing. I had no idea how incredible of a time I would have, even though many people have told me for years how special it is. My first time out there, a "Kerr-virgin," and I had my "Kerr-version" experience that very first weekend. I just sat there, in the middle of a concert, with happy tears.

New Folk was a big honor, and I was completely humbled to be chosen. No one could have made me believe, when I sent in those 2 songs months ago, that I would stand on the stage a winner. It was wonderful though, and Dalis and Rod were so kind, along with all the stage hands, sound crew, and hosts (like funny and wonderful Steve G!). Jimmy LaFave even came backstage during the contest/concert and wished us well – very sweet.

I got to see lots of my musical heroes on the stages out there performing each night. Sara Hickman had the crowd going nuts, and Eliza Gilkyson's new material was breathtaking.

And then on top of all of this, there were the incredible campfires and song circles! The Rouses hosted us in their camp and made us feel completely at home. They fed us, housed us, directed us – basically, we were like middle school kids again, and they were our chaperones. And then Camp Cuisine, Camp Coho, Synchronicity, Sweetness & Light, etc. etc. were all so wonderful and welcoming and full of amazing music. I'm especially grateful for the new friendship forged – too many to list here.

I know I will have to carve out time in my calendar next year to trek out there again; it was too good an experience not to return.

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8:17 AM - The LaFavorite
Current mood: artistic
Category: Music

So…this weekend was fantastic. I was fortunate enough to open for one of my big musical heroes, Jimmy LaFave. And yes, I stole the title of this entry from Griff, who called Jimmy "Austin's LaFavorite." It was too good a title to disappear forever, so I borrowed it.

Anyway, Jimmy's whole band was gracious and accommodating, not to mention *great* (whew, fingers were flying over keyboards, and John Inmon plays such a mean guitar!!). Mark was excellent on the sound board – not to mention patient and considerate. The weather was great, I got to hear Lisa Mills (who was new to me and a joy to watch) play the first part of the show, and the Threadgill's staff is the best…pretty much the makings of a perfect night.

It was all wildly inspiring. Jimmy stayed in Austin to play, despite his loss of his close friend, songwriter Bob Childers. And good grief, he and his band played an AMAZING show. And as it does every time, his voice absolutely broke my heart with every ballad only to revive it again with every up-tempo.

I'm grateful to Lauren, Stephen, Paula, and everyone who came out to support the show – it is so fun to see friendly faces there. And I'm grateful also to all the folks who said such kind words to me Saturday night.

Blah blah, this is starting to sound like an awards speech.

Mostly, I just needed to post SOMETHING b/c my spirit is still soaring from such a great night. And a little over 3 days later, that says a lot.

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5:16 AM - zinc
Current mood: sick
Category: Quiz/Survey

zinc...
does it work?

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3:34 PM - pickles & other serious matters

so...
i ate an entire jar of pickles in 3 sittings. they were delicious and worth the awful monster breath everyone around me had to suffer.

uh oh, the microphone tonight may suffer a small beating of vinegar. perhaps i should brush up before i get there.

in other news, i am utterly disgusted with all of this talk about building a fence on our border. does anyone else think this is degrading? i don't mean to upset anyone, but i think it's shameful. i heard a soundbite yesterday on the news: one of the candidates for president was saying that we have to go after employers of illegal immigrants because the 1 reason immigrants cross the border illegally is for jobs. Doesn't that defeat his own argument?

I mean, if the 1 reason people were crossing was for narcotics trade or other nefarious reasons, that would be one thing. but if they are coming to fill a job demand and to work...

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7:17 AM - awwwwwesome
Current mood: enthralled
Category: Life

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-11-09-mr-toilet_N.htm

really, you must read this.
i haven't laughed so hard in a long time. please tell me what you think of this...um, achievement.

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5:08 PM - but what i really want...
Category: Life

last night we heard some great shows at momo's. the salingers, gina chavez, jeremy nail, jay thomas...and we were somewhere in the line-up too. :)

everyone's band was really great. we had such a good time. i haven't enjoyed just sitting in a place with the whole line-up in a long time. and the leinenkugel's was delicious too.

anyhoo, so i was listening to these other bands, reminded of what i really want to do with my life when i grow up. i want to sing harmony. if i could do anything in the world, i would be a back-up singer. my friend said i have to move to los angeles. eck.

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11:45 PM - austin city limits music fest
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

goodness. i hate self-promotion. it's so awkward.
but if you would like to help...

go HERE.

vote. everyday. and tell your friends to vote everyday.
sigh. that's it.

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1:54 PM - diet coke plus
Current mood: thirsty
Category: Food and Restaurants

i just drank a strange beverage. why add vitamins and minerals to diet coke? i don't know. does it actually make a difference? also, funny to add vitamins to redeem a drink that sells because it doesn't have anything in it. (calories...)

it was in the fridge. and it was free for the taking. so i drank it.

on another note, i am a huge new fan of jeff plankenhorn. i know, i know, a lot of you are out there saying, "a new fan? you dummy!" i know. i should have known about him much sooner - he's played everywhere with everyone. but i just heard him live, and he's so great. bruce hughes is also a stinkin' genius on that bass and vocals. it's almost sick.

okay, today is random, but i was feeling the itch to blog. so i did.

more later.

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3:51 PM - 2 friends named mo
Current mood: calm
Category: Friends

so...i hope you all find this as entertaining as I do.

In Nashville, playing at Cafe Coco, i met a guy who was our stage manager for the night. He reminded SO MUCH of my life-long friend Mo. Now, Mo, my old pal, I have known since I was a toddler. We grew up on adjoining cul-de-sacs in Spring, he killed (though he swears he didn't) my first goldfish Goldie, for which I have forgiven him in full, he gave me rides to our high school, we went to church together, we went to college together, lived in the same apt complex for a while...i'm talking, OLD BUDS.

So, clearly, if someone reminds me of Mo, that person has to REALLY remind me of Mo. Because rarely does anyone come into your life and remind you of someone you've known that well and that long, right? Okay, so this guy is totally killing me with the way he has all the same mannerisms, gestures, facial expressions, etc. as Mo.

So my new friend is also a drummer. For those of you who know, you know that when I don't play with a full band, I often play with Mail Man Dave, who fills it out as the one-man rhythm section. So my new Nashville friend sat in with me on a couple of tunes. Which was fun...and which also reminded me of my friend Mo. Because Mo is a drummer as well, and we've played together for several bands.

Anyway, so I ask for his name. He says everyone calls him 24-7. Cool...EXCEPT THAT HIS NAME IS MAURICE. AND HIS FRIENDS CALL HIM MO. So that doubly freaks me out. Because really - how many people our age are named Maurice? How many? I have now decided that there are 2.

As soon as I find my camera cable thing, I'm going to upload a fun picture or 2 of me and my new Mo friend.

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3:04 PM - unlock .2

okay, so i took it down. good people of the myspace universe, thank you for your votes.

if you're still interested in it, you can go to unlock austin's website and vote for me - it's supposed to tell you other artists who are similar, but i can't even get it to upload a picture. who knows?

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