I had a lot to do and no particular place to go.

Reading about the election between Obama and McCain,

Was bringing my thoughts down and starting a pain in my brain.

Then I checked my funds online and my funds were running low.

That just brought me lower, but it gave me a place to go.

I decided to walk to the Union of Credit ’cause my gas tank was on “E”.

While I walked I tried to edit my thoughts ’cause they were crazy.

I thought “I got no house, no job, no kids, an old car;

The kind of jobs I can get, I don’t want.” Man, my thoughts were getting bizarre!

I was trying to calm my mind, trying not to look so grim,

When I walked by the shop, with the music that rocked, and saw a DJ with a spin.

Yeah, I saw a DJ, he was spinnin’

He was spinning, he was grinnin’

And I thought I’d walk right in.

He grooves seemed out of place

in that bustling business space,

But the smoothy buiness there

Didn’t seem to care.

They were giving away free smoothies,

Blastin’ music in the air.

I got my cold, acai and took my deposits to the Union.

When I walked back out, the music still was boomin’.

I looked to the left, I looked to the right,

I started boppin’ to the music, no other dancers in site.

I looked to the DJ and he bopped right along,

We smiled at each other as we nodded to the song.

I walked right home, cool air in my face

Sipping my smoothy, moving with grace.

Feeling clear in my head, good on the street

All because of some

DJ and his beat.

Jesus Don\’t Give Tax Breaks to the Rich by Frank Hoier

Frank’s My Space page with more songs.

Via 3Hive.

Very Random Musically Themed Links

Spirit Voyage Music : Spirit Voyage Music : Celebrate Peace

Barry Green-The Inner Game of Music

Guitar Noise - free guitar lessons (www.guitarnoise.com)

Untitled Document

MP3.com.au - Australia’s most popular Music Service Provider

Who’s Who? Music Directory: indy songwriters, bands & recording artists - indie musician resources

MuseNote WebRing

The Voice Studio Ring

Dummies::Practicing Your Singing: Getting Started

Expose Progressive Music web site

Appleseed Recordings

Roots Music Report - The #1 Independant Music Charts in the World - Music News, Reviews, & More

Sondre Lerche - official website

Brickell edie “This eye” Guitar chords

? Brickell Edie Tabs, Brickell Edie Chords for Guitar, Lyrics

Online guitar tuner - E A D G B E

3hive - sharing the sharing

Do-It-Yourself CD Cover Design

Adam’s Project

The Official Berkley Hart Website

3hive - sharing the sharing

NPR: All Songs Considered: The Best CDs of 2004: Listener Picks

NPR: All Songs Considered: Best Music of 2004

NPR: All Songs Considered: The Best Songs of 2003

NPR: All Songs Considered: Best Songs 2005 (So Far)

NPR: All Songs Considered: Archives

Amazon.com Music: Music / Best of the Year So Far: 2005 : Top 50 Editors’ Picks & More

NPR: All Songs Considered: Open Mic: Stage 107

Radio

A Prairie Home Companion: Old Shows

Air America Radio America’s Progressive Talk Radio Network

KRCL Community Radio

American RadioWorks - Witnesses to Terror

This episode of “I WANT” brought to you by a person listening to rock music and the letter “I”

This 1980’s song by Taco is the version my Granddad and I used to dance to around the living room:

This version forever ruined the phrase “Puttin’ on the Ritz” for me. Now, this is how I hear it:

A lot of people have covered this song.

Click here to read about the dubious origins and original lyrics of this song.

I’m deciding if I want to take a NIA class this summer. I looked up NIA articles online and found one that gave me a sudden tingle in my stomach and get tears in my eyes. That feeling is a clue.

It was an article about creating space in a NIA class:

…the students created the space every morning and afternoon by coming into a circle, and becoming still in body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

I’ve been thinking about how I want to bring movement to more of our everyday lives. Especially ritual. Maybe that is why I got a teary reaction? Maybe it’s the same teary reaction I get at the end of a yoga or NIA class when I finally pay attention to myself? Maybe I’m longing for that?

Or maybe it was this song I was listening to while I read it. (I dare you to listen to the whole thing.)

(found via Dooce)

This day is quite an illustrious day in history. You might not have realized this.

Duke Ellington and Maya Angelou were born on April 4th.

“April 4” is one of the only dates mentioned specifically in a U2 song. Tis true.

AND I was born on April 4th. Yep, it’s me birthday!*

*If you want to want to give me a present, leave me a comment telling me about something small that someone does for you that makes you feel loved.
April 4th birthdays and years
1896: Tristan Tzara, French poet
1899: Duke Ellington, American band leader
1914: Marguerite Duras, French writer
1915: Muddy Waters, Chicago blues singer
1928: Maya Angelou, American poet

April is also:
Guitar month, Humor month, AND Kite flying month. April truly rocks.

“The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.”
- Robert Frost

“Spring is the Period
Express from God.
Among the other seasons
Himself abide,

But during March and April
None stir abroad
Without a cordial interview
With God.”
- Emily Dickinson, Spring is the Period, #844

More Spring poems here. (Takes awhile to download.)

One night a week at a track club: I like running every now and then- I especially like running fast and this track work out is dedicated to speed work.

Dancing: My favorite dance company in my town has moved closer to where I live and I want to take their classes. I’m a little nervous about facing fat prejudice. I love dancing and I have a natural aptitude for it. I hope I’ll be welcomed and not judged even though I bet I’ll have more fat on my body then other people in the class will.

*If you’ve ever faced prejudice, how do you deal with it? Do you call people on it? Do you ignore it and try to prove them wrong through your actions? Do you ignore it? There is so much fat prejudice in our society. I’m worried that it is especially bad in dance classes. Oh well. I gotta dance. I’m going anyway.

**By the way, if you love dancing and are fat, (ie: you have more fat on your body than you feel is socially acceptable) and are afraid to face the fat prejudice, I recommend salsa dancing and swing dancing. There are people of all different shapes there and people mostly just want a good dance partner. A fat safe place.

Wilderness training: I love camping and I haven’t gone camping in about 5 years now. Unheard of! I got a notice in my email for a ten week wilderness training course put on by the Sierra Club. Ten weeks of training and four camping trips to practice our skills! This class is what got the rat park ball rolling.

Writing group: I write almost every day. I have weird mixed feelings about going to a writing group.

*Fantasy: I imagine reading something and everyone exclaiming about how great it is. Afterwards, people come up to me and say that I should be in their smaller writing group, I should publish a book, they know a magazine editor- I should submit an article.

**What I don’t really want is any negative critique. I’m not sure why I’m less open to suggestion about my writing. I think I know when my writing is crappy or blah. What will be useful for me is having a regular time to meet with people every month and preparing writing to be read in public.

Music: I feel almost opposite about music as I do about writing. I don’t want an open mike night to perform at. I want a jam session and I’m open to LOTS of feedback.

2/25/08 Update: I have been taking the Wilderness course and I have been enjoying my time off. I’m blossoming out of the cage office and in my enriched natural environment. I’m glad I found this post which reminds me of so to add in some of the other activities I was excited about as well. Wishing you the oomph to change any cage like situations and get thee some more park like situations.

Watch the movie, then check out the bios of the actors, then watch (or read) their thank you speeches at the Oscars. Then listen to their winning song “Falling Slowly” and see if it brings tears to your eyes too.

“This is amazing. Make art. Make art.”
- Glen Hansard’s Oscar acceptance speech

“…and this, the fact that we’re standing here tonight, the fact that we’re able to hold this, it’s just to prove no matter how far out your dreams are, it’s possible. And, you know, fair play to those who dare to dream and don’t give up.”
- Markéta Irglová’s Oscar acceptance speech

“You have suffered enough, and warred with yourself, it’s time that you won.”
- lyric from Falling Slowly

Wishing you the daring audacity to make art and the courage to pursue your dreams no matter how far out they are.

With love,
B.