Thursday, January 27, 2011

We must really like The Jayhawks

Is it crazy to drive nearly 5 hours to Chicago in the dead of winter to see a band perform and then turn around and drive another 5 hours home the next morning? Well, maybe a little but when it's a band like The Jayhawks, who cares. Besides...I always say I like a long drive.

The Jayhawks performing one of their most popular songs
"Blue" at the House of Blues.

Mark Olson and Gary Louris performing "Saturday Morning
on Sunday Street" -- I love these guys.

More great Jayhawks songs:

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Mama Campisi with a side of crooner

Mark and I accidentally stumbled (sort of) into Mama Campisi's on the Hill Saturday night. We had another place in mind for dinner (the pizza place next to Chava's) but couldn't find a close enough spot to park. We finally found a spot further away, got out of the car, realized it was very cold, saw Mama's on the corner, and the rest is history. We weren't sorry. It turned out to be a fun evening. I can honestly say I've never been met at the door before by a crooner with a tiny rose. That's what happened at Mama Campisi's Saturday night. The crooner (they call him GB) sings Frank, Dean and Tony. The songs My Way, What Kind of Fool, Fly Me to the Moon, All of Me, Thats Amore, are just a few of the 40's, 50's and 60's hits he sings. Truth be told GB was a bit of a ham and after the third or fourth time crooning at our table became a bit of an annoyance but all in all he was a hoot and a lot of unexpected fun on a cold Saturday night on the Hill.




Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Happy Birthday Kayvon

Kayvon, Mel's grandson and the first great grandchild of the family turned 6 years old January 12th. Pictures of his birthday party were taken at Gateway Fun Park in Collinsville. Happy Birthday Kayvon!





Sunday, January 16, 2011

Like being in a winter wonderland

Spending two days up north last weekend was like being in a winter wonderland. I've never been much into winter vacations, even short ones, mainly because I despise cold weather but this was one mini-trip in winter I thought was just great. Even the cold weather didn't stop Mark and I from thoroughly enjoying our time in Iowa. Actually, staying at the NauView House may have been the nicest Christmas gift I've ever had. There was a feeling of solitude, serenity, and even spiritualness of where we were. Montrose, IA and Nauvoo, IL have a rich history I previously knew nothing of and found very interesting. And the house itself? Perfect. I'd recommend staying at the NauView House to anyone. It's a house with a panoramic view from every room and even with all the windows (and there are many!) it was warm and cozy and not at all drafty like one might expect. I loved the area (in spite of the temps) and I loved the house. And the view at night across the river of the illuminated Mormon Temple and tiny town of Nauvoo against a brightly backlit sky? Priceless. :)

Heading further into winter:

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sometimes you just can't pick 10 (part 1)

Who doesn't love music? Mark and I sure do. While recently talking about our favorite songs of 2010, Mark suggested I post my Top 10 favorite songs of the year. In return, I suggested he post his Top 10 favorite songs of the year. tit for tat I say...

Below is a list of Mark's Top 17 songs of 2010 (because sometimes you just can't pick 10).  

1. Tragedy - By Peter Wolf - Midnight Souvenirs
A duet with Shelby Lynn and somewhat of a comeback for Peter Wolf of J. Geils fame.

2. Twenty Miles - Deer Tick - Black Dirt Sessions
Best song of a very strong EP.

3. Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
Similar sounding to The Avett Brothers.

4. Anchor - Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs Of Love
Lots of good songs on this album.

5. Head Full Of Doubt/Room Full Of Promise - Avett Brothers - Live Volume 3
Unusually good live album. Missed them when they came to St. Louis (but Jake and Ryan didn't).

6. Down In The Bowery - Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs Of Love
More Alejandro. This song is about his son. Saw him do it live...great tune.

7. Shadow People - Dr. Dog - Shame Shame
Discovered the song by seeing the video first. That doesn't happen often.

8. Loredo - Band Of Horses- Infinite Arms
It was tough to pick a best song from this CD. It was the Number 1 selling CD for a couple weeks.

9. Santa Fe - Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do
These guys just keep turning out great songs...despite losing Jason Isbell.

10. Anyone's Ghost - The National - High Violet
Been described as "southern gothic". They might have that genre all to themselves. More great songs on the CD. Very popular band right now.

11. I Won't Be A Stranger - Theodore - Hold you Like a Lover
Local St. Louis band. They released a CD of songs they had been performing live for sometime. Holds up well against the national acts.

12. Comin' Through - War On Drugs - Future Weather
Gosh, whatta a catchy song.

13. The High Road - Broken Bells - The High Road
Debut album from these musical veterans of other bands. Surprised we didn't hear this song in a TV commercial.

14. All Night Long - South San Gabriel - Eyas
Will Johnson takes the Lionel Ritchie song and makes it his own. He honestly does.

15. Written In Reverse - Spoon - Transference
These Austin, Texas rockers are really kickin' it in this one.

16. Out Go The Lights - Spoon - Transference
2nd song from Spoon. This is a simple song, but they really get into a groove.

17. If Time was For Wasting - Dylan LeBlanc - Pauper's Field
This young guy's debut CD sounds something like Gregg Alman's "Laid Back" album. Everytime I listen to this song I draw new comparisons. Maybe a Bob Dylan sound from "Nashville Skyline"?

12 songs from above are included in playlist below...



Thanks very much guest blogger Mark! Great job! muah! ;-)
x

Sometimes you just can't pick 10 (part 2)

Ok, now for my favorite songs of 2010 (in playlist below). Like Mark, I too had a hard time picking just 10. Picking a favorite album of 2010 would be easy though. I'd pick The National's High Violet (2 songs of which are included below). Maybe I like the album because I've always been drawn to sad bastard melodrama type music and High Violet has plenty of it. Or maybe Matt Berninger's oh-so-baritone and slightly sexy voice draws me in. Or maybe (and most likely) it really is just a great album. Heck, even harsh music critic Pitchfork liked High Violet (they gave it an 8.7). Pitchfork so rarely likes anything so that's gotta mean something.

My 2010 Top 17 Playlist

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Why the sad face little buddy?


Last night my grandson Jude came by for a visit. A sweeter boy there never was, sweet...and serious. I love everything about Jude. In fact I love him to pieces. He's added a slice of joy to my life I never could have imagined. But being that he's such a serious little guy he always makes me work for a smile. I try everything. I blow on his tummy, tickle his toes, lift him up in the air and call him "Superman", make silly (and semi-degrading) noises and faces in hopes of a smile (or even a smirk), bribe him with toys, play horsey, pat-a-cake, and peek-a-boo, use my super duper high pitch baby voice, cluck and clack, say dadadada and mamamama and other such nonsense. I've tried everything, short of standing on my head (this I just cannot do).

I don't know, maybe I'm trying too hard. He's probably so puzzled and perplexed by my over the top behavior he doesn't know whether to smile, or cry. That's it! He's confused. I've confused my poor sweet grandson. I know how it is when people talk so fast and loud I have to wait till they come up for air to get a word in and sometimes I still can't. Smiling probably works the same way! Well, next time I see the little guy I'm going to try a new approach. I'm going to be calm and serious, like him, and we'll just see which one of us cracks a smile first. And, maybe, hopefully, it won't be me. :)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

It's still Christmas to us

ahhh, beautiful panoramic views, free flying majestic eagles, wood burning stove, glass(es) of wine…oh wait! We're not there yet. heehee

But we soon will be! Montrose, Iowa that is. Mark and I will soon be traveling north to this little river town (population 957). It may be January to most but its still Christmas in December to us! In lieu of gifts on December 25th we chose a little weekend getaway as our gift to each other. Our getaway will take us to Montrose where we'll be holed up in a house called NauView (named aptly for being located across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo, Illinois). Get it? The house in Montrose is called NauView because as you look across the river you have a view of Nauvoo. Pretty clever, eh? Ok, read it one more time. Being that Mark and I are heading north it’s likely to be brrrrrrr very very cold but nothing sounds better to me right now than kicking back, taking it easy, and staying warm next to a wood burning stove enjoying a nice glass of wine with my boyfriend. Depending on how cold it is we may be sitting next to that wood burning stove for a very long time. :)  As an added bonus I'm looking forward to seeing an abundance of eagles. The owner of the house assured me the eagles are stunning this time of year. Hopefully she’s right and I come home with some magnificent pics to share. I can’t wait!!

Pics copied from the NauView House website:
(I'm sure mine will be much better, haha)
"Get Down River" by the  Bottle Rockets please stop playing thru my head

view from the NauView House deck...I think I see Nauvoo

looking forward to using that wood burning stove

the kitchen where Mark will cook all my meals...hahaha

bedroom 1

bedroom 2

bedroom 3...too bad my twins aren't going too. ha, right.
(somebody has to take care of the animals)

a mini game room (made for a munchkin) but hey it's a game room!

something tells me this picture wasn't taken in january

A little history:
Founded in 1832, Montrose, Iowa, has a long and interesting history. When the first Mormon settlers began arriving in Commerce, Illinois (later known as Nauvoo) the settlement across the Mississippi River that became know as Montrose, was more than 5 years old.

As Nauvoo grew and flourished in the early 1840’s, Montrose also grew. Many Latter-day saints settled on the west side of the river. When the Saint were driven from Nauvoo, they congregated in the area around Montrose, before heading west to Council Bluffs, and later the valley of the Great Salt Lake.

Sounds like we may run into some Mormons or Saints...or both, oh my. 

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

If you like pina coladas


a song for Mark from his new favorite movie...[wink]

Soundtrack:
http://reelsoundtrack.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/all-34-songs-from-the-grown-ups-soundtrack/

Monday, January 3, 2011

2010 - a year in review

It's hard to believe 2010 is over. Each year seems to go by faster and faster. Maybe age makes life seem more fleeting. Maybe that's what it takes before we realize how precious every day, week, month, and year God gives us is. I'm not sure. I just know I'm thankful to have each year and be where I am surrounded by people I love, more thankful than ever.

In place of posting a monthly recap for the last month of 2010, here's one for the whole year of 2010.