Nellie McKay. What?!?! Crazy Amazing Fun Music

My new high-speed internet has led to hours of blogging, online reading, and serious DVR back-up. I was planning on a night to catch-up on some t.v. but discovered a new artist on NPR that once again cut into my Larry King Live and America's Next Top Model episodes (I still have not seen one ATM this season, starting to lose interest I guess). I know I am late in discovering that NPR is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Guess I just got a little busy with having babies for 5 years, not that Baby Wise and the What To Expect series didn't make for some fascinating reading. I've been slacking. Child Wise is still waiting for me on the bookshelf, and is there a What To Expect: The High School Years? Early preparation is a good thing I've learned after three unexpected pregnancies. I've never been a planner.

ANYWAY, this new young singer/songwriter is just so incredible that I had to share. Below are links to her song Gladd that is so beautiful, and a video (17 minutes and so cool if you have the time) of two days with her in the studio where you get to witness the creative process she goes through in composing and recording a song that she starts only after being given photographs from which she chooses one that inspires her. The resulting song is called Cavendish and it is so hauntingly cool, it's as if the past is being channeled back through her creativity. She is like a blend of Judy Garland, Joni Mitchell, and Patsy Cline.

Cavendish

Gladd


Lane, I saw on her website that she will be in New York May 2nd!

BTW, I had to stop in the middle of the road for a turkey today. It was awesome. Made my day.

Oh, and who saw Carrie Underwood last night on Idol Gives Back? How sweet and super awesome was that?

33 years of happy music moments

I'm already having the best birthday and it's only 10:00 a.m.!
I decided a few years back that every year I would make the
most of turning one year older by doing things that I love for
my entire "birthday week".

On my list this year:
bowling (inspired by Across The Universe)
visit an art museum
out for gelato with Chad and the kids
dinner at Red Rock with our friends Kalli and Justin (Justin and I share the same birthday!)
a photo shoot of myself (sounds narcissistic , but I want some pretty pictures of myself as a young person! I stole the idea from Staci)

Last night Chad and the kids gave me my presents because they just couldn't wait. I got some pretty red and pink Gerber daisies, a pot with seeds to grow my own cherry tomatoes and basil, a Starbuck's gift card, and an iTunes card!
My honey knows me well.

I know I am a little late in discovering the wonderful world of the iPod. I just got one a couple months ago. But I hadn't used the iPod store yet and what a high that was! I was so consumed with downloading songs from my past, that Chad cleaned up almost the entire house and I didn't even notice. I shocked him by using up my entire gift card in less than an hour. He walked by every 10 minutes and reported my diminishing credit aloud to me. "$17.78, $13.88, $7.22,... $4.31!" I couldn't help myself and it was so much fun! So today I will be driving to Salt Lake listening to the songs that take me on a trip back 33 years to some of the sweetest memories of my life.

My new tunes (I would love to share so just ask!)

Falling Slowly and Lies (my favorites from Swell Season, and I just bought tickets to see their concert here in Salt Lake in May!)
Erasure (songs from The Innocents. Remember "Yahoo!"...that song was THE BEST. Something about a man in a pink tutu belting "yahoo, ahhhhh find your way unto the Lord", totally floats my boat. I loved that entire gospel-sounding album. It's brilliant.)
A lil' Lionel- Easy, and Three Times A Lady. The best!
Some Michael Jackson of course! Jackson 5 for the kids and a few of my all time favorites-Man in the Mirror, The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney), and P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
Celine Dion- I have never loved her songs enough to buy a CD but I love her voice and I love her. I'll never forget the first time my sisters and I heard her sing in a music video. It was We Are The World or something like that. I love what a cheese ball she is ( just like me) and she sings with so much passion. She is an icon and one of my favorite celebrity personalities. The sweetest person in the world. I am so excited to see her show in November! So I bought two of her songs that I love. I Drove All Night and A New Day Has Come. Wow, I guess I thought I really had to justify my two Celine Dion selections. Ha ha!
Forever and For Always- Shania Twain I love her too and this song is one of my favorites.
Janet-Again and Together Again. Again is SOOOO Rick's College.
The Shins- New Slang, I think I first heard this song in the movie Garden State and it blew me away.
Matt Costa-Astaire and Sweet Rose (a song that we have dedicated to our Rosie) These are such good songs! I love Matt Costa's style. My favorite kind of music I think)
Whitney Houston- How Will I Know (this song reminds me of Jackie. She LOVED this song!)
Carole King- Chicken Soup With Rice. I didn't know she sang that song!
Madonna-4 Minutes (featuring Justin Timberlake!) I guess this is the brand new single off her new album that isn't even released yet. I can't believe how she is still as cool as ever. If that's what almost 50 looks like I am looking forward to it!

I also have several new books that I bought with some birthday money.

The Audacity of Hope
What Is The What
The Looming Tower
Persuasion
Into The Wild
Broken Colors

Happy 33 years to me! :)