Type A

I've always been fairly organized, but lately I've become compulsive. I now feel that it is necessary to have a planner with times of the day in it so that I can see every activity and its orientation to the others accompanied by a continuous to-do list off which I constantly look forward to checking items. For this, I blame Heather Pierce. I'm not sure how long it will last because I honestly doubt my attention span's ability to keep it going; however, it has been a little out of control lately. I feel like I need my planner to have EVERY event of my life in it. It's not even been a week, but it should be interesting to see if my habits can be dramatically changed.

Followers, Forgive Me

The people who follow this blog probably don't base their success in life on the fact that their picture shows up on the sidebar, but it still hurts me to take it away. Google has made the followers section look really tacky, and it's got to go. So to all of you who care and take the time to read, know that I still appreciate it even though I took off the evidence of your care.

Snuggie Pub Crawl

I'm a little weirded out by snuggies (the blankets with sleeves), and the idea of a pub crawl is not something that gets me super excited. However, the thought of a Snuggie Pub Crawl is fantastic. I'm hoping the one in Nashville won't be 21-up unless it's after November 11 because I feel like this is something I need to see.

BlogWorthy

I don't pretend to know anything about music or have any credibility when writing about it, but I love it. And because I love it, I enjoy meeting/learning about other people who are passionate about it, and that is why I'm writing now. Last night I went to see a friend play at Cafe Coco. This show was organized by Quiet Entertainer, and I was struck by his passion for Nashville's music scene. The whole point of his BlogWorthy shows is to introduce people to music and have them use the Internet to spread the word. These shows happen every 3rd Friday of the month at Cafe Coco at 11:00, and the idea is that people will write about them on their blogs, Facebook, MySpace, or whatever it is they feel like using. To hear Quiet Entertainer talk was to hear someone who cares a lot about music, especially in Nashville, and I think he has great ideas. So, I'm doing my part and telling you about it. Last night's show featured Rachel Leigh, James Fate, and Calvin. I have to admit I didn't get to hear Calvin play because I am pathetic and it was past my bedtime (to my credit, I had to work this morning), but what I saw of the show was fabulous. So I encourage you to check out all of these people, and if you're in the Nashville area, you should mark your calendar for the 3rd Friday of every month and check out one of these BlogWorthy shows yourself. I guarantee you'll see passion for music you don't see many places. These people really care about Nashville's musicians, and it should be cool to see where this is going.

This is Quiet Entertainer's explanation of BlogWorthy:

The reason behind BlogWorthy

A lot of people have been asking me about BlogWorthy. Just what is it? What does it mean?It's an idea I've had and a vision that has come to me after being in Nashville for a while. I have observed a duality in the music scene. Existing between the haves and have-nots. The mainstream and the underground. And among the underground; the bedroom artists and the ones who are out doing it. And ultimately just what is right and what is wrong with the local music scene from where we're standing.

It seems like I'm always talking to people who have some kind of problem or issue with the music scene in Nashville. I was writing back and forth with someone on myspace a week or so ago about some local artists and all of the challenges of supporting independent music. At the end of her argument, she qualified it by saying that she was just a music fan and not a critic, so what did she really know?

Actually, I think that her opinion is extremely valid and perhaps equally so to that of a music critic. Because they are dueling opinions. I want people who like music to know that it's ok to actually talk about what you like instead of what you don't like. What rocks instead of what sucks. So, I hope that everyone who likes myself as an artist or any of the other bands or artists at a BlogWorthy show will post a blog about how they thought the show went and what they think of the artists. Especially if they enjoyed it! Then maybe some artists won't have to wait to be recognized by local press. Because we can be the media and we can be the press. Technology makes this possible now more than ever.

As for people passionate about music, I'm learning some of the best writers are regular people who do other things for a living but care enough about music to write about it. Album reviews have become a new favorite leisure reading genre of mine. It doesn't even matter if I ever plan to listen to the albums or not because it is evident that these writers were moved enough to write about them. They might tell you an album will change your life or they might tell you you're better off remaining ignorant of the pain accompanying a new record. Either way, they're witty when they write and because they do it for pleasure they're all in. I can't get away from The Musically Inclined, Twisted Ear, and The Daily Grind. These people are invested, and it makes for good prose.

Sorry there are so many links, but they're worth it. Click on them and listen. Just do it.

Loose Ends

I have managed to get myself completely out of whack lately. I haven't been sleeping enough, which I've realized, and last night was no exception. I went to bed at 11:45 (which I realize is not that late for those of you who pride yourselves on your late nights, but for me it's late) and I got up at 7. I went to work, and I wasn't feeling the greatest. So when I got off work, I went back to my room and slept until it was time to go back to work at 2. Three classes happened while I was out, and when I got off work for the second time all I wanted to do was go back to sleep. I'm feeling so much better now (and will be getting to bed shortly), but I feel like I have messed up my sleep pattern sufficiently for the week. It should be interesting to see how I feel tomorrow. Today I was feeling the effect my sleep deprivation was having on my immune system, so I'm hoping tomorrow I won't have the swollen throat or hint of an impending earache. If only we didn't need to sleep or there were less fun things to do and great people to talk to . . .

And I'm going to see Death Cab for Cutie with Ra Ra Riot and Matt Costa in May, so I've been on a steady diet of these guys. I like it.

Finally, because I had a great time at Nate's show with the really awesome girls who (mostly) live on my floor Friday night, I'm including the picture (I'm the one hiding in the back behind the hair). It's for posterity. And you should go listen to Nate's stuff, because it's good.


Sleep or not, life is good.

I Wish We Could Open Our Eyes to See in All Directions at the Same Time

The church search continues. I decided this morning that I'm really attached to the church I've been going to in Nashville, but it's only that darn Sunday school dilemma holding me back. I know I'm going to find the right place and be happier for it when I get there, but I am growing weary of this endless quest. It shouldn't be this hard to find a place for corporate worship! On the bright side however, I went to an early service this morning, so when the fire alarm in my building went off I was dressed and ready to leave everyone else standing outside in their pajamas. I also had some serious reading time between church and lunch. It's probably the first time I've had the majority of a Sunday free. I managed to finish my reading, go to a meeting, get in a run and still have time for Rock of Love without the distraction of homework.

Yesterday I had possibly the best Valentine's Day ever. I got off work, brought some flowers and candy to a good friend, and then took myself on a date. I spent some time at Starbucks reading and being alone, and it was fabulous. My dad told me I needed to find someone to take me out, but as I pointed out to him it's not worth the date if I don't want to be out with that person. I will be taking myself on many future dates because of the success of this one.

I Dream of Jeannie, They Dream of Kindall

In the last week, three friends have had dreams about me. Not that I think these dreams mean anything, but I find it interesting that I'm on people's subconscious minds.

Dreamer one: can't remember what happened, but coffee was involved.

Dreamer two: I got married to a guy I had not kissed until the wedding ceremony. After the wedding, she (the girl who had the dream) and I went back to a dorm room and she asked, "So are you going to have sex tonight?" She said it was really crazy for her to think about moving straight from never having kissed to that giant next step and that is why she was asking. This one is incredibly random, first because I hope I don't come back to a dorm room after my wedding (plus it's against the rules). There are other reasons, but I feel like you can figure it out yourself.

Dreamer three: I was pregnant. The baby was a friend's. He and I had never dated and at this point weren't talking, and she was asking us if we might just try dating. She said she was really frustrated with us, and I can understand her frustration.

These may mean nothing (although the coffee dream might have been profound if only the dreamer had remembered it), but it's worth noting that I'm in people's heads.

Lessons in Living Free

As of tomorrow, I will have gone one week without spending money on the Heather Pierce adventure. I have learned valuable things about my habits through this experience:

• I think I need to go to coffee shops to study.
• I want to eat when I'm bored, and it's not usually food that I just have around.
• If I only bought enough groceries to keep myself fed, I would be perfectly happy with my life.

I'm sure I've learned other things too, but these are the ones that stick out. I also realize that my typical habits are unnecessary. For instance, I have 3 and 1/2 pounds of Starbucks coffee in my room waiting to be ground and brewed. I do not ever need to go to a coffee shop. There are also plenty of places on campus where I can study and not feel obligated to purchase something (the lobby for instance). Also, my eating habits are ridiculous as well as expensive. I feel like I'm eating better simply because I won't allow myself to go buy junk I don't already have. And finally, the amount of money I need (this is the operative word in the entire post) to spend on groceries to supplement my meal plan is pretty small. I can eat things I like and have plenty without spending much money. So really, even when I go back to spending money I will be looking at it differently. I'm imagining what it will look like when I put my new found knowledge into practice and actually save some money. What an idea!

Perhaps the best thing about this is the time Heather and I have spent doing free things. It's so nice to spend time with someone you want to be around without worrying about how much it costs. We just get to hang out, and I like it!

Church Shopping, Superbowling, and Twittering

Looking for a new church seems like it should be painless. You go, and whether or not you feel like it's right, it can't be that bad can it? What I'm learning is that church shopping is ridiculous. So many churches, yet none of them the one I need. Why is it so hard? Oh well, next week I'm checking out a catholic church with Ice. I'm really excited about it.

As for the rest of my typical Sunday activities, football season is done with the exception of the ProBowl. I didn't get to watch as much as I would have liked this season (and my fantasy team suffered for it), but I'm still sad to see it go. I just love knowing that Sundays and Mondays will provide hours of athletic entertainment. But there is always NFL network where I can watch replays to my heart's content.

And to make up for the time I will not be spending watching football, I've found a new hobby. As if Facebook and blogging didn't take up enough of my time, I'm now addicted to Twitter. I don't know why it's so great, but I'm really thrilled about it. I feel like the world should have constant updates of what's going on in my life. It's just like this blog, but quicker and less indepth. It was love at first sight.