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Frankly, all the reviews are right: it's amazing. The sound is unbelievably crisp, the song choice is great, and the animation is more like a feature film than a video game. You know what this means: Bundy Kid Thanksgiving is gonna be OFF THE HOOK THIS YEAR (can I get a "what?what?" up in here??).

The neighbors came over last Sunday night to help us break in the new peripherals, including Beatles-themed drums, mike with mike stand, and a supersweet Hofner viola-style bass controller.


Franklin likes the drums, too, but not as much as ...

... the box they came in. It was a great opportunity to I talked to him about how awesome it is to build forts.

Blues at the Barn and St. James Hotel, Red Wing

Thanks for a lovely time, D & D! :)

Band Silliness at 331

Great time with the Band last night: cocktails at the Peacock Lounge, dinner at Erte, a fantastic Zenon dance show (music by Handel, Joy Division, Lyle Lovett, Chopin and Jelly Roll Morton) at the Ritz Theater, then a bit of the Twin Cities Ukelele Orchestra (their cover of "Hey Ya!" was really fun) at the 331 Club.


After the photo below, ETC asked, "I tried to look really angry. Did I look angry?"

When I Find Myself in Times of Trouble ...

… I go to the piano.

We’ve had the piano for several months now. I play nearly every day, especially when I’m stressed or sad. It’s become a very personal ritual -- which is probably why I haven’t written much about it -- that occupies my restless mind and heals my winter-weary heart.

And yet, the comfort it brings me hasn’t prevented me from developing new (or rediscovering old) neuroses, especially in the category of how my abilities line up with what I think they should be. I try to remember not to be too hard on myself; after all, until November, I hadn’t touched a piano in twelve years. But I’ve found is that not only am I out of practice with getting my fingers to do what they should, but also with reading bass clef (which was never my strong suit, thanks to ten years of focusing on trumpet), deciding how to break down difficult passages so I can start to chip away at them -- all that stuff.

So last month, in need of some insight, I called Dad, hoping to mine some tips from his five decades of guitar playing. We talked about how to structure a practice session, the fact that plateaus are a natural part of making progress, the idea of running through your list of problem passages every day -- that kind of thing. And while all of that was great (there’s now a note on my music folder that reads PLATEAUS HAPPEN), the best thing I got from the conversation was some perspective by way of a music history lesson.

We’d been speaking in pretty general terms about my concerns and frustrations ("If you’re struggling with a piece for weeks and weeks, how can you tell whether it’s out of your league or you just need to work harder?") and I finally volunteered some specifics: "I’m doing well with the Sarah McLachlan. With the Beatles, I’m mostly working on later stuff from Paul: 'Golden Slumbers' -- "

"Oh, all that piano at the end of 'Abbey Road' is just gorgeous, isn’t it?" Dad asked.

"Definitely. But I’m about to walk away from 'You Never Give Me Your Money.' The left hand is just killing me. I swear, I can tell that Paul has bigger hands than Sarah McLachlan because I can reach all the notes in her bass lines."

"And don’t forget," Dad added, "he’s left-handed."

Holy crap! "Dad, I’d completely forgotten that! How could I forget? He’s Mr. Lefty Flip!"

"That’s right!" he answered. "So you can cut yourself a little slack on that, okay?"

I continued: "The other one that’s pissing me off lately is 'Let It Be.' Not the whole thing -- mostly it’s going well, even the bass part, which jumps around a lot. But you know that pretty little organ part in the middle, way up high?"

"Sure, sure."

"It’s so beautiful, but I’m just having a hell of a time putting the left and right hands together. The left-hand part is so tricky, but when I simplify it, it really loses something. I want to get it right, but this seems hard even for Paul."

"But that wasn’t Paul," he said. "That was Billy Preston."

"No! I knew he did the awesome solo on 'Get Back,' but I thought that was it!"

"Oh, he’s all over that album!”

Does it make sense that I felt really comforted by this? That I pressured myself to be able to hang with Paul (one of the greatest of the greats), but could forgive myself that Billy Preston was out of my reach?

Maybe it’s not logical -- unless you listen to the electric piano on "Get Back" -- but it sure helped. Thanks, Dad. :)

"Edge Says, 'It's Better'"

On September 23, 2005, we saw U2’s Minneapolis stop on their Vertigo Tour.


I could go on and on about the exactly how much ass they kicked that night (Jon Bream of the Strib wrote that they “blew the roof off the Target Center”), but lately I’ve been thinking about a particularly poignant moment towards the beginning of the show.

My memory is aided by the fact that M was smart enough to call home during the show to memorialize it in a voice-mail (which we still have), and lucky enough that he did it at just the right time, so we have a recording of the lovely little episode I’m about to describe.

They’d opened with the beautiful “City of Blinding Light,” played another song or two, and then The Edge began the opening strains of “Miracle Drug” as Bono stepped forward to speak to the crowd. He thanked everyone for coming and spoke briefly about what he liked about Minnesota, citing first the Mississippi River and then commending the work being done by the physicians and researchers at the Mayo Clinic down in Rochester.

All the while, The Edge continues the soft melody of the “Miracle Drug” intro.

Then things get a little odd. Bono says:

So we took The Edge down to the Mayo the other day. All the doctors wanted to get a look at him because you know, Edge is from the future.

M and I looked at each other. Edge keeps playing and Bono continues:

And all the doctors and all the nurses gather around him and want to know everything. They say, “Edge, what’s it like in the future?” And Edge says…

Huge pause.

Edge says…

Pause.

… “It’s better.”

The crowd went freaking nuts. And that’s when I started crying.

In some ways, 2005 seems like a million years ago, but since November, I’ve been wondering whether maybe -- maybe! -- Edge is from the future, and he’d had a glimpse of Tuesday.

Photos of Edge and U2 in Minneapolis, Sept. 23, 2005: J.Drury via U2gigs.com

Birthday!

Had a terrific birthday this year, including a fun happy hour with The Band, dinner at the new posh sushi place in downtown (which was beautiful, but the sushi was just "meh") and some great prezzies!

Dad and Bunny got me another Bachman's gift card (YAY!! it's so nice to dream about gardening with the weather so cold), which came with tons of balloons ...


... so I tied them to furniture all around the house. :)

Mom and Bill, along with Mike and Laura (who had already given me an awesome Cupcake Royale tee to match Addie's) gave me lots of sheet music for the piano!! In addition to the staff paper (so I can transcribe things into different keys or score out stuff by ear, which I've been doing a bit) from Mom, I also got:

• Radiohead's Kid A ("Everything in its Place" seems perfect for piano);
• The U2 Piano Collection (ditto "Sweetest Thing"); and
• The Beatles' Best, an "easy piano" collection of Beatles songs (really nice because the "real" version of "You Never Give Me Your Money" was making me pull my hair out!).

Thanks, everyone! :)

Out of the Blue, A Piano (Chapter 3)

Here's the foyer before.
Hauling are Paul (who is remarkably strong!), Mason, next-door Tim, Midwest Mountaineering Peter, and Mason's dad, hidden behind Peter.
Here are Phyllis and Paul (Phyllis is Grandma Sue's niece).
Check out the awesome piano stool!
It's a perfect fit.Bonus history lesson: As the piano was being moved in, out fell this tiny button from the 1927 Hoover-Curtis presidential campaign.
And taped to the back of the piano was a small piece of yellowing paper, on which was typed:

An item from the Dec. 28, 1902, paper: Miss Kate Plummer [M's paternal great-grandmother] surely got on the right side of Santa Claus. A brand new piano is a gift that Santa doesn't bring to everybody.

Out of the Blue, A Piano (Chapter 2)

Now, how to get the piano here from Iowa? Paul was hoping to have it out of his house before snow. Mason start talking about a road trip with some guys to help him bring it back when the e-mail below arrived.

__________________________________

From: Paul
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 3:06:04 PM

Mason,

I have another option, that is if you like it. I am willing to look into the cost of renting a U-haul trailer, and to get help locally to load the piano and drive my pickup and trailer to your place, for I also have a roto tiller that needs to go to my daughter's house in Cottage Grove. I will get back to you soon. Paul

____________________________________

From: Mason

Sent: November 20, 2008 3:42 PM

Paul,

You are amazing! That would be great. Let me know how I can help coordinate. Thanks,

Mason

Soon, everything was arranged. The piano was to arrive less than fifteen days from the original conversation with Mike.

____________________________________

From: Laura

Sent: November 22, 2008 05:56 PM

Hi Paul -- this is Mason's wife, Laura. First, let me thank you for the piano and let you know how really excited I am about this! ... Glad to hear this process has gone well on your end. Again, I'm so excited about this and really honored to be taking care of such an important piece of Lewis family history. Thank you very much. Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow!

Laura Sorenson

____________________________________

From: Paul
Sent: Sat November 22, 2008 7:03 PM

Laura,

Great to meet you. I am so looking forward to seeing you in person tomorrow. I know only a little about Mason and everything is fantastic. Honors received, academic record, travels around the world, etc. So, since you are the person he chose to marry, (oops, it could have been the other way around - rather mutual, whatever), you will be the perfect person to continue to enjoy what was given to Kate by her parents when she was a girl of 18! ... See you tomorrow! Paul and Phyllis

Out of the Blue, A Piano (Chapter 1)

While we were playing in the music room in Seattle, Michael asked me whether I still had a piano. (We’d had a small upright in the house growing up that I used to play, and I brought it to college with me my sophomore year. But it was prohibitively expensive to move -- I ended up switching apartments quite a bit in college -- and I eventually sold it one year to help with tuition. )

I told Mike that I didn’t have it anymore and he said that was a shame, that he thought I’d really enjoy just noodling on it if I still had it around. I hadn’t thought about it in ages, but it felt like he was right.

“Maybe you want to keep an eye on Craig’s List,” he suggested. Sure, why not, I thought. I mentioned it to Mason on the flight home and then sort of forgot about the whole thing.

Lo and behold, a mere three days later, this e-mail string with the Lewises (Mason’s paternal grandmother’s family) kicks off.

____________________________________

From: Paul

Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:13 AM

Calling all Lewis'

I do not have any use for Grandma Lewis' upright piano anymore and hope someone will want it. ... I'd like to hear from you ASAP if you want it, for I will be moving it soon ...

Paul, the one who married well....that is when I picked Phyllis from the Lewis clan

____________________________________

From: Grandma Sue

Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2008 11:38 AM

It will be wonderful if someone in the family would want the piano. It was given to Grandma Kate Lewis when she was 18 years old - from her parents. ... I took piano lessons when I was in 9th grade - so I played it a bit. Every once in a while Mother would sit down and play hymns.

Sue

____________________________________

From: M

Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:13 PM

Hi Paul,

Laura and I might be interested. Laura grew up with a piano in the house. We would need to find a place in our house - could you send the measurements? ... If one of the real pianists in the family is excited to have it, go for it.

Thanks,
Mason

Another cousin named Ilo expressed interest, so everyone exchanged some more e-mails, including this one:

____________________________________

From: Paul
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7:52:43 PM

Mason,

Thanks for the note. I will trust Ilo to let you know her decision, but if not, I will certainly be in touch with you. Paul P. S. I now see even more evidence of why your Gandma is so proud of you.

Ilo later responded that although she’d be interested at first, her son and yellow lab both expressed concern, so the piano was ours if we wanted it. Woo hoo!

Counting to Four

It's sooo cliche to fall in love with a song featured in an iPod commercial, but I'll cop to the fact that that's why I first became interested in "1234." After downloading it, I was truly tickled to find out that the song in its entirety is far more charming than the limited clip in the commercial lets on, and even more excited about it after seeing Leslie Feist rock the eff out on SNL. Now, she's gracing an episode of "Sesame Street." How awesome.

RSSIMHRN for January 11

Remember these? :)

Ever since an impromptu Dan Zanes jam session in Ormond with Dad, Mike and LSB over the holidays, I've had the happy zydeco rhythms of "Wonder Wheel" stuck in my head.

It was a lot of fun to learn -- Mike pulled up the chord progression from the Dan Zanes site (how cool that Dan makes the chords for his songs available online!), and we all sat in the studio at Dad and Bunny's place and sang along. The funniest thing was that Addie, for whom this little performance was intended, seemed far more interested in the picture of Mr. Zanes on Mike's laptop than in the music. She kept pointing at it and saying happily, "Da Zane!"

RSSIMHRN, August 9

After reading the NYT's review of the B.B. King/Al Green show at Madison Square, which culminated in a description of Rev. Green's take on "Amazing Grace," the Blind Boys of Alabama are gracing my inner soundtrack this morning. Their version of the hymn -- with the traditional lyrics layered over the chord progression to "House of the Rising Sun" -- has long been an iPod staple for me, particularly after we were lucky enough to hear them perform the song live when opening for Peter Gabriel a few years back.

RSSIMHRN, August 7

One of the things we really like about Netflix is access to TV shows that we'd otherwise miss because they're on cable. There's been quite a bit of positive buzz about HBO's "Big Love," so we Netflixed it and watched the first two episodes the last couple of nights. I wasn't sure at first how much I'd like it, given the ostensible creepiness of subject matter, but it's incredibly engaging -- starting with the opening credits. They're beautifully shot and introduce the main characters and their relationship(s) in a very dreamy and slightly trippy way-- all set to the happy harmonies of Mssrs. Wilson et al. So that's the source of today's RSSIMHRN, which is fine: I could do a lot worse than having "God Only Knows" in my head for a couple of hours.

RSSIMHRN, July 21-23

I suppose it's not really a "random" song stuck in my head if it's not random, i.e., if I specifically sought out the source of the song -- which, in this case, I did. I saw "Hairspray" (the film) on Saturday afternoon, and for the last three days, my toes have been tapping to what's left in my head of "Good Morning, Baltimore."

"Hairspray" puts you in a good mood that lasts all day. And if you're expecting blah "Broadway-style" tunes, guess again -- the music is fantastic in a very Ronettes-meets-Martha-and-the-Vandellas sort of way. Everyone in the theater was dancing in their seats.

I realize this film's not for everyone, but between the terrific tunes, amazing cast (I was bawling by the end of Queen Latifah's "I Know Where I've Been") and the surprisingly substantial story (it pays homage to the optimism of the early 60s, which promised to be a decade that finally welcomed outsiders, and to those willing to take chances to affect change), I think most folks will find something in there to enjoy. :)

Separately, I've been meaning to finish posting about my goofy squirrel adventures, but last week was pretty icky (the merger for which I'm working on communications/training/support got pushed back a couple of months), so I appreciate your patience. :)

RSSIMHRN, July 11

Sometimes, things hit you harder than you anticipate, don’t they? When I listened to the 30-second iTunes preview of this song, I immediately loved it and purchased it right away. But the first time I listened to the whole thing (I remember it was on the train, coming home from work) was also the last. It’s just too sad. Don’t get me wrong -- I totally appreciate melancholia in pop songs, but this one takes it all the way to painful, so I just prefer not to listen to it. Unfortunately, I caught a little of it while flipping stations this morning, and it’s now been stuck in my head for hours. I think I’m going have to blast it out of there with some Gnarls Barkley or The Shins or something.

Cool Treats for Hot Days

It was another scorching weekend, and while that annoys the crap out of me in some ways, it's a fun meal-planning challenge. I love that I can't remember the last time I turned on the oven, that recipes for crisp salads and cold treats abound, and that all the fresh produce makes "improvisational cooking" -- something I often enjoy -- even more fun and colorful.

Here's what we've been eating lately.

Chicken Salad Wraps

• Chopped fresh chives and parsley from the garden
• Slivered almonds
• Diced red onion
• Canned chicken breast
• Light mayo mixed with a little horseradish for bite
• And here's the best part: chopped dried cherries

Mix it all together, and spoon it onto tortillas that have been drizzled with honey mustard. If you'd like, boost the antioxidants by throwing in a few leaves of baby spinach.

Creamy Tomato-Cucumber Salad

• Diced fresh tomatoes (ours came from a road-side stand)
• Fresh cucumbers, skin and seeds removed
• Chopped red onion
• Fresh parsley and dill from the garden
• Marinade: red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and a little Splenda

Marinate for up to three hours. Drain. Gently mix in cubes of sourdough bread that have been spritzed with olive oil and grilled (or toasted). In a separate bowl, mix a little more red wine vinegar with light sour cream and more herbs or salt to taste. Toss with the tomato mixture. Great with chilled Pinot Grigio.

Lemonade with Blueberry-Infused Vodka

• Dump a handful of blueberries into about eight ounces of vodka. Let steep overnight in the fridge.
• Prepare frozen lemonade according to the directions on the can, but substitute the blueberry vodka (including blueberries) for one can of water.
• Add a little orange liqueur for complexity (I like Patron Citronage, but you could also use Cointreau or Grand Marnier or even Triple Sec).
• If it's too tart, add a little Splenda.

This is soooo smooth that you have to be a little careful. You can barely taste the vodka, so it's easy to get carried away with this on a hot day.

RSSIMHRN: Did anybody else catch the Live Earth broadcast? We watched a little of it, and the Keith Urban/Alicia Keys version of "Gimme Shelter" was phenomenal. Unfortunately, that's not the song that got stuck in my head. This is. Bummer.

(Visual) Fruits of Labor

Here are some photos of all the gardening work I did last Sunday!

Updated Containers
The lettuce in the containers by the birdbath has been replaced by a "Red Beauty" pepper (I counted six peppers on the plant this morning!) and two kinds of mint.

Better Spacing for Back Bed
Here's a shot of the corner where I spaced out the perennials (particularly the Agastache) a bit better.

And here's a shot of the annuals, which now also have more breathing room. Having the red Salvia spaced out between the purple Ageratum (especially next to the chartreuse of the Agastache) just makes the colors pop a little more.
New Dianthus
This photo really doesn't do justice to how lovely the contrast is between the foliage and bloom colors.
Petunias Around Lamp
Yeah, I'm just not sure how crazy I am about this. Oh, well -- I can move them.

Relocated Sunflowers
Look at that wilt. :( Clearly, they didn't handle the heat any better than I did. They'll get extra water this week.
Oh, and RSSIMHRN: stupid Cardigans. Actually, that song isn't nearly as annoying as it used to be. Remember when the Cardigans played that big Roaring 20s party of Kelly's -- her birthday or prom or something -- and her dad showed up with her half-sister and she was mad all night and annoyed the hell out of Brandon? No? Surely I'm not the only one who watched "Nine-Oh" re-runs instead of studying, right?

Does it help that last night's RSSIMHRN was bit more substantial?

A Long Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Just came across an article from JIVE magazine called "The Complex and Terrifying Reality of Star Wars Fandom." A small excerpt:

Star Wars fans hate Star Wars.

If you run into somebody who tells you they thought the franchise was quite enjoyable, and they very-much liked the originals as well as the prequels, and even own everything on DVD, and a few of the books, these imposters are not Star Wars Fans.

Star Wars fans hate Star Wars.

Tangent: Did you know that Luke Skywalker was recently named number eight on a list of the top ten wimpiest action heroes in movies? Says the L.A. Times:

Other characters got the immortal lines such as "May the force be with you" and "Luke, I am your father." But what did the ostensible hero of the original "Star Wars" trilogy whine in his first appearance? "But I wanted to go to Tacchi Station and get some power converters!" This is the son of Anakin Skywalker? No wonder his dad was trying to kill him.

ANYway, if you have any feelings -- positive or negative -- about The Force, you owe it to yourself to check out the JIVE article.

OH! And I've been thinking for a few days now about a new Sparklegirl feature. Introducing: RandomSongStuckInMyHeadRightNow, (RSSIMHRN). Currently, it's Ms. Underwood getting nasty, which is much better than a few days ago, when it was that song from the Pantene commercial.