Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Tift Merritt

I'm going to see Tift Merritt in March at her concert at the Carolina Theatre in Durham. Tift got her start in the triangle area.

Three Girls And Their Buddy


I said in "new year, new experiences" that I'd missed out on my chance to see Patty Griffin in Chapel Hill. Fortunately it turns out I didn't! One site said sold out, but another said there were seats available. I ended up sitting way in the back of the theatre, but fortunately it was a small theatre.

The name of the show was Three Girls And Their Buddy. It was Emmylou Harris (famous country/folk/bluegrass singer), Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin (mostly known for her pop hit "Sonny Came Home"), and Buddy Miller. The group was awesome, and they took turns singing songs and harmonizing with each other, while Buddy played guitar for all (and sang his own songs too).

My favorite was Patty, followed by Emmylou mostly because of her legend. Buddy Miller played very unique selections and was good. Shawn Colvin is very talented but she's just not my kinda thrill.

I didn't get any good pictures, just some shaky and dark video, but the picture above was taken at Patty's show in Raleigh at the NC Museum or Art back in 2006.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

A new year, new experiences

This year, I want to add more spice to my life. I wasted most of the past 7 or 8 years just going through the same routine: wake up, go to work, come home, watch tv, go to sleep, rinse and repeat. Over the past couple of years I've rediscovered sports that I used to play all the time when I was younger. Now between "come home" and "go to sleep", nearly every day I get out and do something: I go to the gym to work out, play volleyball, racquetball, ultimate frisbee, or shoot pool (ok, not a sport but still fun).

For 2008, I plan to step it up. I want to get out and have more fun, play more sports, be healthier, be smarter, and most importantly - do things I've never done before. Here's a list of some things I plan to do this year (some of these things are lofty goals and some of things are ridiculously simple. I don't care, I just want to do them. :P):

  • Go somewhere new (new to me, that is) and exciting for a vacation (Mexico? Jamaica?)
  • Go to more concerts, comedy shows, and sporting events.

    So far I've seen:

    Will Ferrell
    Lori McKenna
    The NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
    Patty Griffin w/ Emmy Lou Harris in Chapel Hell.

  • Join a new sports league (a new sport, maybe dodgeball or flag football)
  • Go on a hiking trip

    So far I've gone hiking on the Eno River, and I am going to South State Park near Asheville, and a volleyball camping tournament in Virginia Beach.

  • Go on a snow-skiing trip in the west (Colorado or Utah)
  • Go on a water-skiing trip (maybe http://www.cobleskischool.com/)
  • Take a cooking class, and do more cooking and less microwaving.
  • Drink a lot more water and a lot less diet soda.
  • Try lots of new foods and visit restaurants I've never been to.

    Indian food is really good.
    I found a Korean place I need to check out.
    I found a really good Thai place.
    I ate a tomato sandwich (gasp)

  • Be a more friendly and outgoing person (I'm usually a pretty big ass)
  • Read more books

    The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and the Amber Spyglass.
    The Tipping Point

  • Visit NY city
  • Go to a ComedySportz show (maybe http://www.dsicomedytheater.com/schedule/showdetails.php?ShowID=26)
  • Start a jump training workout and daily pushups/situps
  • Clean up some of the little software apps I've written and put them on the web for free download.
  • Hang-gliding in the outer banks.