the clarinet goes dood lee dood lee dood lee dood lee det.

If anybody's wondering what to get me for Christmas.... here's a start....

Tell me honey, what is it we do?

Bush is giving a press conference on TV as I type. I can't help but be reminded of Jonatha Brooke's "Christmas wish list" I read today that she did for Blender.com

So, I had to make a call today. A kind of important call...as calls that I make go. So, I prepped. I made sure I had all my notes there, a working pen and notebook, I used my Nettie Pot so I could get the passages open and get the most direct path for oxygen to the brain going. I made sure the phone was charged, pulled up relevant emails and websites to have in front of me and I was ready. I made the call. As with most things, it wasn't that big of a deal and more went into worrying/prepping than the actual conversation. But halfway through the conversation I looked down and thought, "I wonder if this guy realizes that I'm in pajamas with blue moose on them...or what he would think if he did have such information." Ah the habits of the self-employed. As I hung up the phone, the thought occurred to me that through the entire conversation, I was using the business voice. You know, a little too quick to the nervous laugh, overly cheery and above all, the moderately obnoxious over-annunciation. But as soon as I got off the phone, I thought how I wish I spoke like that a bit more to my friends on the phone. I mumble. I know it. As soon as I get off the phone with a few people in particular, I have that "I left the stove on" moment of remembering..."Shit. I forgot not to mumble!". One day. Don't give up hope, friends.

Speaking of being self-employed, I had a shoot with David Phelps and his band today at a rehearsal space here in town called Soundcheck. (I'll post some on the flickr site tomorrow) I got there on time which means I got to hear 3-4 songs as they were running late. (who would have guessed?) But, it was a fun time all around. Everyone was very kind and the actual taking of the pictures went fairly flawlessly, but you never know if it's what they want. Especially when there are many many parties to please. When I first pulled up today, an older gentleman who was pulling out of the space near the door rolled down his window and asked, "What are their names?" I realized then that he had seen me pull in with Levi & Scout in the backseat. We talked about dogs for a minute and he reaches into his glove box and extracts two large bones he explains that he regularly gets from a local BBQ joint and would like to give these two specimens to my pups. It was very sweet, but I then realize I'm walking into Soundcheck with two big ham bones. I shoved them in my purse and kept trucking.
There's something about tours like that coming together where a lot of the crew doesn't know each other that everyone feels the need to tell stories. It's very funny and usually entertaining. One of today's gems was told by a boisterous Brit who explained how his (insert generic relative here) was once in a Christmas pageant playing the Inn keeper. When Mary and Joseph approached the Inn keeper and asked if they might have room for them in the Inn. Silence. No response. Joseph asks again, "I'm Joseph. This is my wife Mary. She's with child and in need of a room. Would you have room for us?" Still, the Inn Keeper did not respond and finally mumbled under his breath, "I can't remember my line." Joseph finally mumbled back, "Just say something!". So, in a loud voice, the Inn Keeper proclaims, "Sure! We've got tons of room! Come on in!" bah dum dum.


Currently Listening to:

Lovers Electric - "Lovers Electric" -

This is my friend Butterfly's sister and brother-in-law's (David & Eden) band. I can't stop listening to their record and listen to the single, "Honey" more than is normal. Check out the totally sweet video here.

crisp autumn day. leaves are in full turn and it's gorgeous to watch. slept in a bit after the scary movie marathon with bob and peter last night. We watched the beginning of Hostel until Bob asked that we...not. Oh, those squeemish boys. I did forget how vulgar the beginning of that movie is, though. sheesh. grabbed some thai with derek then went to see judd & maggie at 12th and Porter with Andy Davis and Peter Bradley Adams. I really enjoyed J&M's set. Sometimes I forget what people do for a living...especially friends who play music for a living b/c I don't often get to see them at work. But every time I do it's almost always wonderful and complex.


if i keep saving drafts of blogs hoping to finish them, i'll never blog.