I have a social life! Kind of.

So, on Saturday I went to a concert at Cicero's with my roommate, Renee. Yep, you read that correctly. I went out on a Saturday night.

But that's not the point. The point is, Renee introduced me to some great new music by a really awesome band called Mike Mains and the Branches. Here they are:

Source

Most of them anyway. When I saw them on Saturday, their lineup was a little different, but they were so cool.

They were all up on stage, looking so dapper. Even the girl. Girls can look dapper. The men were all wearing oxford shirts and sweater vests and ties and things. Their show was so rad. They really knew how to engage a crowd, and they even included audience participation! During the last song, they invited the crowd up on stage with them. It was pretty awesome.

Here's the video for their song, "Stereo."

Happy Monday, friends!

Adventures in Online Dating, part 2

I logged into the online dating website on Monday, fully intending to shut down my account. I hadn't even been on the website in about two weeks. I'd resolved to give up online dating; it wasn't doing me any good, I wasn't really talking to anyone, and I felt like I was advertising myself the whole time. Also I was tired of the emails clogging up my inbox.

It all seemed like a game I didn't want to play. And going out on a date with someone I don't even know does not seem worth the anxiety I feel over it.

But maybe that's how I feel about dating, even in the real world. I'm just not sure it's worth the anxiety I feel. The thought of going out on a date with anyone is pretty scary.

So on Monday, in my efforts to figure out how to cancel my account, (Which I still haven't found yet, by the way.) I found myself looking at profiles. And then I found myself sending messages.

I'm thinking this is part of this particular website's plan to keep you on their site. They make it difficult for you to cancel your account, and so instead you give up and keep looking at profiles.

I'm going to give it another week. Or however long I feel like.

Normally I hate award shows.

Last night I managed to watch most of the Grammy Awards before I turned into a pumpkin at roughly 9:45pm. Normally, I hate awards shows. I tend to lean towards the opinion that it's just a bunch of rich people patting each other on the back.

Nevertheless, any shows of self-importance were completely made up for by the amazing performances. If you didn't watch it, I feel bad for you. The only gripe I have is that someone in production likes technology WAY too much.

This year's Grammys apparently hailed Justin Timberlake's return to music, not that I keep up with such things. Friends, he was nothing short of spectacular. Here he is performing "Suit and Tie."

Did you watch the Grammys? What was your favorite performance?

Ada

Everyone has a story. It is worth knowing, and often times the most fascinating are from your own family. Stories are powerful. They can bring laughter, tears, truths not yet heard, family closer together, and healing.

I loved my grandmother very much, however my view of her was always somewhat colored by her failing health. There was so much I didn't know about Ada Lee Fielden.

Her parents traveled from western Missouri to eastern New Mexico in 1908, a distance spanning roughly 700 miles, by covered wagon with three small children in tow. She was the last of her siblings, the youngest of eight.

She was born April 7, 1921, nearly an entire century ago. She grew up during the Depression and the Dust Bowl. She was her high school's valedictorian. She loved gardening, crochet, embroidery, painting. My grandfather, LeRoy, called her Shorty, and they loved each other very much.

LeRoy and Ada Fielden, 1947. Photo belongs to our family.

I posted briefly when she passed away a few weeks ago, but we held her memorial service this past Saturday in Louisville, KY. My mother and aunt, as well as a number of friends from her church shared many memories and stories about her. I was able to rejoice for her, for the life she had lived, for the salvation she now has in Jesus, in a way that I never could with my paternal grandfather, Herschel. I learned more about her after she died, I think, than I ever did while she was alive, a thing I somewhat regret. However, the learning has brought about closure, a contentment with the knowledge that she has been taken home to heaven.

My grandmother's obituary can be found here, as well as a number of other photos of her and our family.

Dr. House can sing!

In case you didn't know, approximately two years ago Hugh Laurie, formerly of TV's "House," released an album called "Let Them Talk," full of New Orleans jazz.

Yep. House can sing and play the piano.

This happens to be my favorite track from the album, because of reasons that should be WAY obvious once you press play on this video.

You're welcome.

10 things I wish I could say out loud

(but can't because we all have to be adults sometime, right?)

Presented in list form. The numbers are just for show and to satisfy my need for numbered lists. They do not indicate any particular order. Oh, and most of them will probably be about work.

1. When I tell you I don't like to be touched, an appropriate response would be, "Oh, sorry. My bad. I won't do it again." An inappropriate response would be what you said, which was "HAHAHA THAT'S HILARIOUS!"
2. An Americano is the EASIEST DRINK TO MAKE. Espresso shots + hot water. When you were hired, it was LITERALLY the first thing they taught you to make. So when someone asks for an Americano with milk, you should know that they don't want steamed milk instead of water. THAT'S A LATTE. YOU SHOULD KNOW ALL OF THESE SIMPLE THINGS. 
3. Thank you for halting your assumption that I'm always pissed off when I'm really just tired. It really makes my life a whole lot easier.
   
4. When we are at a four way stop, and it is my turn, you may not creep forward into the intersection, because it is my turn and you have to wait.
5. Use your words. And get rid of that attitude. When you scowl at me and hold out a container of half and half, but don't say anything, YOU ARE BEING RUDE. An appropriate way to ask for more would be "It appears we've run out of half and half. Can I have some more, please?" But that's probably my bad. I understand that when you're the consumer you can't be bothered by things like manners and stuff.
6. How is it that you have enough money to drop $600 on one dress?
7. When it is 11 o'clock at night, and you are walking down the street, that is not an appropriate time to be shouting because people are sleeping.
8. THE ENDING TO THE NIGHT CIRCUS IS NOT A COP-OUT. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
9. Stop being such a toddler. The things you're getting angry about are not a big deal. Put on some perspective, please.
10. People leave you because you push them away, because you give them no other choice. Please start wearing your reality pants. 

Wow. That felt really good! Thanks for listening guys.

Feel free to use the comments to share anything you wish you could say out loud! I highly recommend it.