Running on Empty

Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind

I had forgotten how much I like Jackson Browne until this week when I couldn't get his song, Running On Empty, out of my head! It was a litany that kept me going for the past several weeks as I put in 12+ hour days on campus, 6+ hour stretches of grading, all while averaging about 4 or 5 hours of sleep! It's just a reminder that I am not as young or as resilient as I used to be.

4:30 yesterday I said good-bye to my last group of summer students. I've enjoyed getting to know all of my students this summer. I only wish I had had more time to devote to them individually.
7:02 last night I completed grading my 'last' paper, test, reflection, website, whatever! (I'm waiting on two items from two students.)
7:05 I began grading a portfolio that had been turned in late and needed immediate grading for admission to student teaching.
8:50 I finished grading said portfolio and headed home.

I spent several hours with the boys straightening up the house and doing a load of laundry in preparation for our very quick trip to Arkansas. We'll essentially be driving down, visiting with Tree on her way to Mexico City, and driving back! I'm not looking forward to the driving, but I am looking forward to visiting with nephews and niece.

Now for all of you Jackson Browne fans, a little clip of Running on Empty from 1979.

Nancy Frieko Rocks

I'd like to share a video from an old friend who made her way (north) west a few times over. Nancy Frieko grew up in Central Arkansas and now makes her home in Seattle, WA. When she's not rockin' she's mom to two awesome boys. Congratulations Nancy on your album, Dangerous Songs from the 12th Perspective! My favorite Frieko song is My Vagina! Learn more about Nancy at her website.

V is for Van

Van Morrison that is! Where would I be without the music of Van Morrison? Nobody makes me cry like Van. Yet when I am crying, he's the only one who can make it all better. Some say he's grumpy. Others say he cannot sing. I don't care. For me, his music is a religious experience.

The man has released scores of albums. In fact, just this month he released Keep it Simple. He writes love songs; he sings the blues; he's recorded some of the most wonderful hymns; he rocks. He has music for all of my moods!

Several years ago Van came to Nashville. It was my friend Shannon who told me he was coming to Dallas, but tickets had sold out. I waited for weeks for the Nashville tickets to go on sale. They were $85 each. But I'd always wanted to see Van. The tickets went on sale at 10:00 a.m. I picked up the phone and called. The gal who answered explained that it was only 9:58 and that I would need to call back. I reached her at 10:04 and they had sold out. I was miserable. Folks were selling his tickets on e-Bay for hundreds of dollars. No, I didn't go. But I will. Some day.

Picking a favorite Van song would be just about as hard as picking my favorite children's book. But I would have to say that of my many favorites, the following are definitely at the top: Have I Told You Lately, Tupelo Honey, I'm Tired Joey Boy, Enlightenment, When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God, Melancholia, and Brown Eyed Girl.

Van, your music makes my soul sigh and my heart sing! Thank you!

Brown Eyed Women

I've got a Deadhead in my Foundations class. She sits right up front and has several Grateful Dead tees and a cool book bag with Jerry Bears (a.k.a. Dancing Bears) across the flap (Yeah, I am jealous!). I asked her what her favorite Dead song was. She just looked at me. That's like asking me what my favorite children's book is. We agreed we both have several favorites.

Sometimes my favorite is China Cat Sunflower. Other times I like the ubiquitous Truckin' or Casey Jones. And there's always room for Black Muddy River and Tons of Steel from the album In The Dark (Yes, I have that on vinyl.) Recently, my favorite is Brown Eyed Woman.

Below is Bob Weir and Ratdog with their version (a good one I might add) of Brown Eyed Women.

"Brown eyed women and red grenadine
the bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean
Sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down
and it looks like the old man's getting on"

Rehab...

Sometimes We Know

Lyrics to Van Morrison's Sometimes We Know

Sometimes we know, sometimes we don’t
Sometimes we give, sometimes we won’t
Sometimes we’re strong, sometimes we’re wrong
Sometimes we cry

Sometimes it’s bad when the going gets tough
When we look in the mirror and we want to give up
Sometimes we don’t even think we’ll try
Sometimes we cry

Well we’re gonna have to sit down and think it right through
If we’re only human what more can we do
The only thing to do is eat humble pie
Sometimes we cry

’fore they put me in a jacket, and they take me away
I’m not gonna fake it like Johnnie Ray
Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry

Sometimes we can’t see anything straight
Sometimes everybody is on the make
Sometimes it’s lonely on the lost highway
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry

Gonna put me in a jacket, and take me away
I’m not gonna fake it like Johnnie Ray
Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry

Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry

Peace or Prozac

WookieFoot!

"Buddha and Shiva and the elephant with six arms
All love jesus so put away your fire arms
Oh now people come together
Let's go down to the gateless gate"

That's right, people come together it's time to Activate! Head over to the WookieFoot website to learn more and hear more about one of my new favorites. WookieFoot rocks! Let me know what you think!

Summer of Music

Alison Krauss
June 19

The day after my trip with Shannon to Omaha (to see James Hunter!) we went to see Alison Krauss with Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas.

Shannon called me one day to tell me that she had read that Alison would be playing in Kansas City at the Starlight Theater! I laughed, as it is one of the few places in Kansas City that I can find! You see, it’s next to the zoo. Anyway, I enjoy a good Alison Krauss tune from time to time, but I was not prepared for the beauty of Alison’s voice in person! So many times you will see a group in concert and they just don’t measure up to the “studio version.” This was not the case. Alison and the guys sounded even better in person. They had no opening band, and played for over two hours straight. The rest of the band took a slight break when Jerry Douglas did a kick ass Dobro solo. Wow. Not sure you like bluegrass? Check out Alison Krauss et al. and you’ll find yourself loving bluegrass.

Goo Goo Dolls
July 2

Shannon’s email to me to let me know she had secured tickets to Alison Krauss in June came with a surprise. She’d also bought tickets for the Goo Goo Dolls for July 2! Holy smokes! What fun! Shannon returned to the ‘Burg just before Independence Day and we headed back over to the Starlight to see Johnny Rzeznik and his friends. They were full of energy and put on a great show. Rzeznik, a Polack from Buffalo, NY, had a great sense of humor and interacted with the audience. I had a blast!

The Starlight

The Starlight Theatre in Kansas City’s Swope Park rocks! Literally and figuratively. This outdoor venue offers all sorts of affordable, summer concerts as well as plays and other events. Less than one hour from my front door, you can bet I’ll be returning to the Starlight! Linda Ronstadt will be there on September 7th and Willie Nelson will be there on September 20th!


Shannon, thank you for taking me to see Alison and the Goo Goo Dolls this summer! This has truly been the summer of music!

James Hunter Rocks!

(James Hunter, Playing with Fire, Omaha, NE June 16, 2007)

Father's Day weekend found John and Orion headed to Arkansas for Camp Subiaco while Kat and Shannon headed to Omaha, Nebraska for a free concert. Omaha is home to Playing with Fire. The Playing with Fire concert series provides several free concerts during the summer where voluntary donations at the gate go directly to the local food bank and percentages of proceeds from tee shirt sales, soda sales, etc. go to various non-profits (e.g. The Blues Ed. Program). What a show!

Shannon and I were on a mission. To see James Hunter- up close and personal. And we did! Shannon sent me a link to James Hunter's site nearly a year ago. I immediately fell in love with his music! James Hunter, a singer and songwriter from the U.K., will win anyone over. Click on his name to visit his website and hear some of his music. He's awesome!

To make a long story longer, when I heard Shannon was headed to Ireland this summer I thought I would check out his website to see if she would be able to catch him while she was on vacation! What I found was that he was right here, practically in my back yard. Omaha is (only) four hours from the 'Burg. And off we went!

The concert was in downtown Omaha at the Lewis & Clark Landing along the Missouri River. The gates opened at 4:00. We were there at 4:05 and were able to park directly across the street from the park! The landing is brick and concrete, so if you go - bring chairs. The temps that afternoon reached 95 and there was no shade to be had. But that didn't dampen our spirits. We were treated to three opening "Blues Ed." bands where local adolescents and young adults jam together. They were quite good. Curtis Salgado also sang his heart out. He was great, however Shannon wouldn't be swayed- she had one man on her mind, one man in her heart. Finally, just after 9:00, the scorching sun had set only minutes before, James Hunter came to the stage. He was great. I was ready to sing along. I was ready to dance. I was ready to rock and roll. What I wasn't ready for: his awesome sense of humor. I was able to take a few pictures with my sluggish camera. Enjoy! And if you ever have a chance to see James Hunter - DO SO. If you ever have a chance to hang out one of the Playing with Fire concerts- BRING SUNSCREEN.

Curtis Salgado wails a good tune.

Shannon smiles as James comes to the stage!

The many smiles of James Hunter!

Thank you James for an AWESOME show. Thank you Shannon for ADVENTURING with me!