June 21 has come and gone, which means I had better start enjoying Summer as it will soon ber over!
I especially enjoy the little back patio of our house. I eat breakfast there almost every week day and enjoy just sitting with a cup of coffee and just "being". At night, I enjoy reading (and yes, occasionally napping!) on the patio.
I have started riding my bike each morning and have found it works well. (I can't ride it at night as often as I'd like due to meetings etc.). I take my walk, read the paper, bike and then eat breakfast, take a nap and head to work! I am already preparing for this winter since I am surprised at how cool riding the bike can be even in warmish weather. (I wear long sleeves for my morning ride.) I also ride in the heat, but I am slowly getting into "2 ride a day days" when time allows!
The early morning ride is nice, it is cool and little traffic. I can watch the dawn creep in, it seems like it is dark and then suddenly it is light.
Looking forward to the seeing everyone at the Courter Reunion!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Biking in the morning
I recently decided to start riding my bicycle every morning so I could ride it on a regular basis. Due to evening meetings etc., I have a difficult time riding my bike during the week. (I actually enjoy the heat, so it doesn't bother me.)
I walk first thing in the morning, so I changed my schedule to walk, then read the paper, then ride my bicycle and then eat etc.
Thus far, I am really enjoying my early morning bike ride. The main thing I noticed is that even in a temperature in the 70's, it is still cool to ride a bike in the morning! This morning it was 69 degrees and I almost froze, even with a long sleeve t-shirt and a long sleeve jersey!
Of course, this reduces my precious "early morning" time, but thus far it is well worth it. Morning seems to be "hypertime" when time moves much faster than the rest of the day!
An Interlude
Last week, I stopped to pick up an item. As I pulled in, I noticed a young woman on the ground in back of a vehicle with a scooter on it. The thought crossed my mind that she was fixing the scooter.
As I came out, the woman was still on the ground and waved and asked if I could help her. The normal thoughts of a "set up" etc. crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed them.
The young woman was severely disabled and had slipped on the sand and couldn't get up. A man was there, but couldn't lift her because of her disability prevented the normal method of lifting.
Another man quickly arrived and we lifted her and helped her get into her vehicle. (She apparently used the vehicle and then used the scooter to get to her location from the vehicle.)
The woman gave us a beautiful smile and thanks. We looked at each other, I think each of us thinking of her courage and strength in refusing to succumb to her disability. She obviously continued to live her daily life.
After she again waved her thanks, we all walked away, having shared of life's interludes.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
CMA Fest 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008: Traveled to Nashville. Saw Keith Anderson (one of my favorites), Joe Nichols, Luke Bryan and James Otto at a free concert downtown! Not bad when the CMA Fest doesn't start until Thursday!
We picked up our parking pass, our "freebie" bag, so we are ready to go!
The crowd is entertaining when there isn't any entertainment!
After getting to the hotel, we noticed we had missed several "fan parties" (including Tracy Bryd), but....we try to pace ourselves! Tomorrow will be a full day. We plan on going to the Riverstage (Jo Dee Mesina, Luke Bryan, Keith Anderson, Mindy McCready, Aaron Tippon, Mark Chestnet, Danielle Peck, Tracy Bryd among many others) and than going to the Convention Center for the booths, autograph/picture sessons and (perhaps most of all) the air conditioning!
One thing I really like about CMA Fest is that I always discover some new singer I haven't been aware of before who becomes a favorite. I especially enjoy the fiddle players.
(For example, I wasn't consciously aware of Keith Anderson, John Anderson, Jeff Bates and others until I saw them "live" at the CMA Fest.
Nighttime will be the "big" show at the football stadium.
Thursday June 5, 2008: Went to the River Stage. To hot and too many people (I'm not standing up in the hot sun for anyone!). Heard Jo Dee Messina but couldn't stand the heat!
Went to the Convention Center (exhibits, autographs etc.). Actually saw Randy Travis and almost got his autograph and a picture with him, but the line was too long. He was originally supposed to only stay for 20 minutes and he stayed much longer, so it was ok. He was good natured as he signed items even as he was leaving. Also saw Bucky Currington, James Ottto. Tracy Bryd, Billy Currington and a few others. We try to meet the lessor known ones also, it is always to talk with them.
Saw Brandi Thornton in the "Acoustic Corner" and she signed a picture and took a picture with Aliene.
At lunch at the Merchants, a welcome respite from the heat and crowd. The crowd seems much larger this year.
Went to the "Big" concert at the football field and saw Montgomery Gentry, Jewel, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, and Rascal Flatts.
Friday, June 6, 2008:
Went to the "Riverstage". Much less crowded than yesterday, but just too hot. Saw Neal McCoy, Mgan Mullins and Jeff Bates before escaping to the Convention Center.
Had a lot of fun in the Convention Center, getting pictures (Lorrie Morgan, Alan Jackson (sort of, the crowd was so big it was hard), Little Big Town.) I walked around a corner and told Aliene "that looks like Aaron Tippon("kiss this)". Sure enough, it was and we jumped in and got our picture with him and actually talked with him. He was extremely nice. Also got our picture with Bill Anderson, Riders of the Purple Sage and a few up and comers who aren't well known. Went to the acoustic corner and saw Tulluride, which was very pleasant. A lot of fun again!
Lunch at Merchants again.
Thursday June 5, 2008: Went to the River Stage. To hot and too many people (I'm not standing up in the hot sun for anyone!). Heard Jo Dee Messina but couldn't stand the heat!
Went to the Convention Center (exhibits, autographs etc.). Actually saw Randy Travis and almost got his autograph and a picture with him, but the line was too long. He was originally supposed to only stay for 20 minutes and he stayed much longer, so it was ok. He was good natured as he signed items even as he was leaving. Also saw Bucky Currington, James Ottto. Tracy Bryd, Billy Currington and a few others. We try to meet the lessor known ones also, it is always to talk with them.
Saw Brandi Thornton in the "Acoustic Corner" and she signed a picture and took a picture with Aliene.
At lunch at the Merchants, a welcome respite from the heat and crowd. The crowd seems much larger this year.
Went to the "Big" concert at the football field and saw Montgomery Gentry, Jewel, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, and Rascal Flatts.
Friday, June 6, 2008:
Went to the "Riverstage". Much less crowded than yesterday, but just too hot. Saw Neal McCoy, Mgan Mullins and Jeff Bates before escaping to the Convention Center.
Had a lot of fun in the Convention Center, getting pictures (Lorrie Morgan, Alan Jackson (sort of, the crowd was so big it was hard), Little Big Town.) I walked around a corner and told Aliene "that looks like Aaron Tippon("kiss this)". Sure enough, it was and we jumped in and got our picture with him and actually talked with him. He was extremely nice. Also got our picture with Bill Anderson, Riders of the Purple Sage and a few up and comers who aren't well known. Went to the acoustic corner and saw Tulluride, which was very pleasant. A lot of fun again!
Lunch at Merchants again.
Big concert Friday night at football field was great on music, a little irritating on the trivial talk. We got very tired of seeing Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swith as presenters. Enjoy their singing but they just didn't have the experience to handle the presenting. They did an excellent job on singing Thursday night (Kellie Pickler wasn't as good as last year), but they are out of their league as presenters. Not their fault, they just shouldn't have been chosen for this.
Got really tired at the "are you having fun yet" and "get on your feet" comments all night, but it wasn't really that bad. We have seats where people standing aren't a problem.
Presenters included Jake Owen, Ashton Shepard, Jack Ingram, Lady Antebellium, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner and Faith Hill. All did an excellent job, Josh Turner and Faith Hill were just super, but all did a great job.
Due to the chit-chat and small talk and delays, (plus a desire to avoid the traffic and get back to the room, since it was 11:30 p.m.) didn't see the "special guest", Keith Urban who was the last to perform.
Tomorrow, a priority is to get the tickets for next year, hopefully the same seats!
A lot of fun today, after getting tickets for next year, which was a real ordeal (plus losing our seats we had this year). They need to change that.
I am keeping my record of this on Google Notebook and am finding out that Google is messing up my computer. So much for Google programs. I am having to rewrite Saturday's account since Google did not save it.
Went to the Convention Center after standing in the sun for 2 hours (and finding our seats we had this year sold due to the obsolete system they have here).
Really enjoyed the Convention Center this year. Took pictures of Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Ronda Towns and others. Talked with Taylor Ware the "world champion yodeler" who I first saw perform at the Opry in 2005. (She must be around 12 years old), took a LOT of pictures I will post after I delete the bad ones!
Saturday night saw Craig Morgan, Little Big Town, Rodney Atkins, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Kenny Rogers, Jason Michael Carroll, Jamey Johnson and Daryl Worley. Have to say Rodney Atkns and Alan Jackson did the best performances although I enjoyed all of them.
Sunday, June 8, 2008: Last day of festival. We went to the Convention Center one last time. Hear a performance by Timothy Craig (included a fiddle player).
Sunday night saw Charles Wicks, John Stephen, Phil Stacey, James Otto, Bucky Covington, Randy Travis, Sara Evans, Billy Ray Cyrus and Dwight Yoakam. Randy Travis has always been a favorite signer of mine and this is the first time I have seen him perform. I wasn't disappointed.
So ends CMA Fest 2008. We had a lot of fun and are looking forward to next years! The heat and sun on the Riverstage is a continual problem I feel they should do something about (put in fans, tents, or something! Next year we plan on having a "Festival Book' of pictures and autographs. We aren't really "autograph hounds", but I would have liked to have had Aaron Tippon and Randy Travis autographs.
I am keeping my record of this on Google Notebook and am finding out that Google is messing up my computer. So much for Google programs. I am having to rewrite Saturday's account since Google did not save it.
Went to the Convention Center after standing in the sun for 2 hours (and finding our seats we had this year sold due to the obsolete system they have here).
Really enjoyed the Convention Center this year. Took pictures of Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Ronda Towns and others. Talked with Taylor Ware the "world champion yodeler" who I first saw perform at the Opry in 2005. (She must be around 12 years old), took a LOT of pictures I will post after I delete the bad ones!
Saturday night saw Craig Morgan, Little Big Town, Rodney Atkins, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Kenny Rogers, Jason Michael Carroll, Jamey Johnson and Daryl Worley. Have to say Rodney Atkns and Alan Jackson did the best performances although I enjoyed all of them.
Sunday, June 8, 2008: Last day of festival. We went to the Convention Center one last time. Hear a performance by Timothy Craig (included a fiddle player).
Sunday night saw Charles Wicks, John Stephen, Phil Stacey, James Otto, Bucky Covington, Randy Travis, Sara Evans, Billy Ray Cyrus and Dwight Yoakam. Randy Travis has always been a favorite signer of mine and this is the first time I have seen him perform. I wasn't disappointed.
So ends CMA Fest 2008. We had a lot of fun and are looking forward to next years! The heat and sun on the Riverstage is a continual problem I feel they should do something about (put in fans, tents, or something! Next year we plan on having a "Festival Book' of pictures and autographs. We aren't really "autograph hounds", but I would have liked to have had Aaron Tippon and Randy Travis autographs.
One thing I really like about Nashville is stories similar to the story of Chuck Wicks. At the Convention Center I noticed there was a crowd around a man signing autographs named Chuck Wicks. I had never consciously heard of him so that night I was surprised to see him perform at the "Big Concert" . He mentioned that one year ago he had been up in the "cheap seats" and this year he was performing! (His breakthrough song is "Stealing Cinderella" ). I expect it is stories like that that keep a lot of aspiring singers, songwriters etc. coming to Nashville!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Coffee on the patio
As the summer continues (will actually, not until June 21, but I really consider this "summer"), I have relearned the simple pleasure of sitting on the patio with a cup of coffee in the early morning and just doing nothing!
I have recently been readying something every chance I get to save time and the other day I just sat on the patio and enjoyed a cup of coffee and listened to the birds.
I probably get more done in these moments than I do all day, as far as thinking. That is one thing I really enjoy about my morning walk and bicycle ride, it gives me a chance to think.
I am going now to enjoy my cup coffee in the early morning, doing nothing but enjoying my coffee and listening to the morning sounds!
I have recently been readying something every chance I get to save time and the other day I just sat on the patio and enjoyed a cup of coffee and listened to the birds.
I probably get more done in these moments than I do all day, as far as thinking. That is one thing I really enjoy about my morning walk and bicycle ride, it gives me a chance to think.
I am going now to enjoy my cup coffee in the early morning, doing nothing but enjoying my coffee and listening to the morning sounds!
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