Monday, August 27, 2012

Week 21: New Camera and Week 22: The Troubadour

I'm having that problem again - the one where I am so far behind on the ol' blog that I avoid it entirely because even thinking about it just makes me feel guilty and overwhelmed, which is too bad really because I really enjoy it when I'm doing it well, which is not now. Obviously. Anyway, these "new" things are now several months past and not so new anymore, so I'd just like to get caught up and move on, real quick and dirty like.

On the 21st week of the year, way back in early May, I bought myself my first serious camera, one I have been eyeing for over a year now. The Olympus that my parents gave my for my 29th birthday was the best gift I have ever received since it started me on what I hope will be a lifetime of hobby.  I had gotten to a point with my photography, however, where I felt like I wanted to make a step up from the entry level camera. I lusted after this Nikon for at least a year before I finally pulled the trigger and bought myself this little present.

My new thing for the 22nd week of the year was a visit to the Troubadour, the iconic music venue where Elton John, the Eagles, James Taylor, Carole King, Fleetwood Mac, and countless others paid their dues.

We went to see Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers. I have no idea what a grambler is, but the show was fantastic. Sadly, my new camera was not allowed in, so my only evidence of my inaugural visit to the Troubadour comes courtesy of Luella (that's my phone's name, in case you've forgotten).


Ms. Bluhm and her Gramblers are not only great musicians, they also seem like great people. I am basing this solely on the fact that they do fun things like record covers of Faith while driving around in a van...

                         
In fact, they also recorded cover's of Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Material Girl, and Islands in the Stream, and myriad other easy listening classics. I really want to ride in that van.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Excuses, Excuses...

I've been busy...with work, with life, with family. These are lame excuses. Probably the same ones used by the negligent avian mother who laid first one...

then two...
eggs in my potted basil plant before disappearing completely. Actually, family was clearly not one of her excuses...

Sad ending to this story -- both of those eggs were destroyed, presumably by the alarmingly aggressive squirrels that leap from power lines to branches to my balcony with terrifying agility. I'm not sure what that means for my blog in this analogy...

In any event, I have clearly been avoiding this place. I have some guesses as to why, but none of them are particularly interesting, so onward and upward.

In the meantime, so you know work is not just an excuse and I have been writing somewhere, go read this. Really. It will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I'll be back soon.