Lollapalooza

This weekend has felt like my own personal Lollapalooza, packed with concerts and car jam sessions. And in my world, “packed with concerts” also indicates that the weekend was abundant with opportunities to swoon. But that’s probably just me.

I’ll start off with a mention of John Mayer’s Storytellers that aired Thursday night. I melt at the thought, but I wasn’t too jazzed about the songs he chose…I have a lot of respect for his talent, but I could’ve done without hearing Your Body Is A Wonderland.

Friday evening, we piled in Robbie’s car and headed for burgers, a fried ride and a local school benefit concert. We were enticed with the promise of Megan’s boyfriend’s uncle playing the cowbell for a classic rock cover band. With all the great images and high expectations that come to mind at the thought of someone playing the cowbell in real life, we were committed with the hopes of something along the lines of Will Ferrell in his tiny tee. Although it was entertaining, we bailed early with our cowbell fever cured and headed for a local pub that we knew had a jukebox. As the entire kickball team filtered in, Kristen quickly worked her jukebox magic and roused the crowd with some Queen and Otis Redding.

Saturday morning, Robbie made good on a promise that he would get us copies of all the new music he got for Christmas. Enter the new Timbaland and Kris Allen cds! From Saturday morning on, Kristen and I kept Kris Allen’s Alright With Me on repeat as we rotated between Volvos. Maybe it was just all the magic that a Saturday brings, but I would challenge you to play that song on repeat and not at least feel the urge to snap! (I also highly recommend Bring It Back.)

Saturday evening was another benefit concert for the Bethesda Young Life Organization featuring Dave Barnes and Matt Wertz. Thus began the real swooning (and an impromptu marriage proposal via twitter). I have been a huge fan of both of these guys since college; so much talent and such great hearts. They shared a lot about their own stories, played some of their favorites and made lots of jokes. But Dave Barnes singing Grace’s Amazing Hands is nothing to joke about…you could see the girls going down in the audience one by one.

With a spring in our step, we scurried out of there (listened to Alright With Me about 3 more times in the car) and claimed a couple of extra tickets from some friends for the Yo La Tengo concert. I have to say that my favorite part about it was that the lead singer (age: still TBD) was married to the lady drummer and the band had been together since 1984. When he got crazy and starting distorting the amps about 13 minutes into a particular song, I’m sure her heart swelled behind her drum set. It was also the type of concert where the anonymous guy in the fedora felt comfortable enough to light up a reefer as he pleased…I guess that’s the life of a real rock ‘n roller.

I’ve also got the new Vampire Weekend cd to chew on, but I think I’m re-prioritizing my Sunday to include a serious nap before the Grammys red carpet begins, so more on that later.

Hope your weekends rocked too!

My Song Is Love

Tragedy has consumed the world in recent days. Sitting in a safe and comfortable place, it's hard to see and understand that these images are a reality for so many people in Haiti right now. It's all I can do to restrain myself from adopting a Haitian child.

I took some time tonight to catch up on the "Hope For Haiti Now" celebrity telethon that aired this past weekend. The images are nothing short of gut-wrenching, but there are tremendous stories of faith, survival, hope and perseverance. One of the stories they featured was of a Haitian man who stood outside of the building, where he knew his wife was trapped, for days on end, never giving up hope that she was alive. On day 6, he found her; and she came out singing.

There are so many great organizations that are gathering funds and aiding in the relief and rebuilding efforts. But this Hope For Haiti album is a new way to give and further your passion. Some of the most incredible artists of our time have gathered and added their spin on old classics. 100% of proceeds go to support the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, and Yele Haiti Foundation.

If you need a little more convincing, listen to Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris's version of Hallelujah or Jennifer Hudson's Let It Be, or Coldplay's acoustic medley of The Message. "Stranded (Haiti Mom Amour)" features powerhouse musicians like Bono, Rhianna, Jay-Z and The Edge. I assure you, you'll never get this many names on an album for this price, for a cause as great as this.

A Sweet Disposition

I don’t do resolutions. One of the key things I lack as a person is self-discipline. I’m not a runner; I’m not a dieter; I’m not a consistent blogger. Therefore, making a new year’s resolution is like setting myself up for failure – and I have a serious fear of failure. So when the inevitable question flies my way, I take the edgy and confident approach of “I don’t do resolutions.” transitioning my position from failure to trend-setter.

Truth is I’m not inspired by a calendar date. I think inspiration finds you at the most unexpected times and places. After a low key weekend of spending quality time with friends and watching really romantic movies (and football!), I found myself full of hope and optimism for the New Year.

In a frenzy brought on the arctic blast and 1* wind chills, I booked a flight to California to spend 4 glorious days with my two best girl friends.

Kristen introduced me to this blog, which entertained me for hours and restored my faith in love and fun. They give me hope and fulfill all my crazy ideas about life.

I read this tonight in a magazine: "The most elusive of men, Mr. Right is difficult to locate but well worth the effort. Many women settle before finding him, so go out with your friends, be yourself and he will appear. Mazel tov."

Trivial they may be, but here are the few things I can commit to doing in 2010:

I’m going to keep my hair long (until I’m tired of it), because it makes me feel girly.

I’m going to finish reading the Harry Potter series (currently in book 5) and also try to read lots of other, more mature books too.

I’m going to pray more.

I’m going to keep testing the waters with indie music, because once you get past the weird stuff, it’s really, really good.

I’m going to invest in my loved ones, because the ROI is immeasurable. (And it’s not like I have a 401k to invest in.)

I’m going to be happy for others when they’re happy, and celebrate in their accomplishments.

I’m going to turn 25.

I’m going to figure out how to turn off the closed caption feature on my DVD player.

I’m going to keep writing this blog, because every time someone notices that I haven’t blogged in a while, and they see this as a negative thing, I get a tiny surge of joy.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found in you," declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-4