biding time.

Readers: how the hell are you? I hope your answer to that question is something of a positive. I really hope you're not having a bad day, but if you are, I sure do hope that the blog will brighten it, if only for a moment. Also, know that I am writing this post merely as a way to distract myself from what’s certain to follow. Coming up, you better get beyond pumped because I have the most incredible post saved on this here laptop about Saint Patty’s Day. It really is going to change your life. And it will be a change for the greener, the Irish, and the better. I feel safe in saying that you’re going to love it.

But I can’t put it on here yet. I really thought about doing it because The Office was already celebrating over on NBC last night. Did you see it? Andy had on a kilt. It was great. Scottish, but great. but I just can’t post it yet. It’s best if I can hold out until March 17th. Gees, that feels like it’s going to be light-years away, but I hope we can both hold on. I mean really. It’s that good.

So, what can we talk about to keep our minds off of what promises to be the most amazing post yet?

*know that I sat here for a while and couldn’t come up with anything good*

Here’s what we’re gonna do: I’m going to give a quick update on the past posts. I can see how you may want to immediately leave the blog. I mean, that doesn’t sound like it’s going to be super-interesting, but I don’t have that option. I have to keep on typing because it’s necessary and because I can’t stop thinking about that post that’s going to be all about the Irish.

So, let’s start back at the beginning. Have you read all of the posts, thus far? I hope you’re nodding your head in a “yes” motion. That first post about Valentine’s Day “Valentine: Revisited” was, really, a stupid title. You can’t revisit something that you’ve never visited. So, that was a negative. Sorry about that.

Anyhow, Valentine’s Day 2010 ended up being really awesome. My dad had to go to Atlanta (that wasn’t awesome) and it was the first time that he hadn’t spent that holiday with my mom in something ridiculous, like, since he was sixteen. So, I decided that the rest of the family was going out and my dad thought that was a good idea.

I called up my grandparents, whom I call “the kids,” and we all, in fact, went out. Even my brother, who wouldn’t have had any trouble getting a girl to go out with him on that holiday. He usually has a legion of admirers, but if you’re one of those girls and you come after my brother with googly-eyes. Well, remember that post with the Power Rangers picture on it? I really will do what I said because he is one of my people, just like you (the person currently reading)

Anyway, it takes a lot for me to approve one of those lasses (sorry, I‘m still in Irish-mode), cause we’re tight. And if I’m going to give up my time hangin’ with my broski to some girl, she had better prove to be nothing short of what my expectations are.

Also, if you’re a guy, I’ll share with you the advice that I often give my brother: never trust a girl who has a tan year-round. (upon reading that back, it sounds slightly racist. That’s not how I meant it. I’m just talking tanning beds, here. Those make for sketchy people)

At any rate, we went out and it was fun. Except for this one guy who was sitting at a table and he had a date. Anyhow, she left before that sweet tea ever even hit the table. Yeah. She totally ditched him. It was so uncalled for. If you’re that girl, and you’re reading this, I have one message for you: well, I can’t put it in here, because it isn’t nice. I don’t want you to think that I’m a mean person.

Moving on. Okay, let’s make this short-and-sweet. The following is a follow-up on past posts. Of course, they’re in order:

*Yes, times is still hard. Although, I think the blog really must be catching on because I’ve noticed a slight 23% increase in the niceness of the common stranger.

*It’s not cold anymore, but I still want to meet up and build that campfire. I know where we can get some gravel. Also, my Les Miserables sweatshirt has been found. Tony the klepto-ghost is still on-the-loose. Send help and bring marshmallows.

*I still don’t like Taylor Swift at all. However, that picture of Kermit just keeps getting better and better. And I’m waiting for one of you to cover that song with my new lyrics. I have a feeling we’ll be famous together.

*I’m not going to Bonnaroo, but man, that line-up is still super-impressive. I’m thinking about putting up the tent or popping up the camper in the backyard and bumpin’ some of the tunes that those attending the actual festival will get to hear. Let me know if you want to make a reservation. It will be completely free if you bring an instrument and/or sleeping bag. And rightfully so.

*My i-pod shuffle was never found. My dad was nice enough to lend me his. It basically has the same stuff on it. I thought the other day about buying a Nano. I decided that I don’t need it. Instead, I bought a TMNT t-shirt. I think that was the smarter purchase.

*I don’t have the strength to talk about those poems.

*That “Johnson City Honda, Johnson City” commercial is still annoying and “that’s what she said” has never sounded better.

*I read the first ten pages of “Common Sense” by Glenn Beck. Then, I threw up. No, really, it wasn’t that bad, but I got a little freaked out. My dad wants to read it. He also records Glenn Beck’s show everyday at five. On Fox News. Again, send help, but this time, bring sanity.

*Again: those poems were a product of a moment of a bizarre place. But I kind of liked being there. I hope you did, too. I’m not going to disclose any more information on those things.

*WHOA. I have thought of so many songs that should have been on that Top 50 List, but I knew that was going to happen. Also, John Clayton Mayer and I are still pretty tight. Even if he does act like a jerk on the news-circuit because I’m a loyal fan. Really. I’m super-loyal.

*Avatar still blows my mind. I still haven’t gotten over it. At all. I love talking about it. I hope you do, too. Also, Hurt Locker WAS NOT better. I know at least one person who thinks that it was, but he was just talkin’ crazy. I mean, he couldn’t have really meant it. Actually, I think he did, but I’m not going to hold it against him. And if you agree with that crazy logic, well I won’t hold it against it you either. But just know that I’m going to have my own awards show and Avatar is literally going to win EVERYTHING. Because that’s how it should be.

*Really, I will be there the second you need me. Cause we’re tight like that.

*Nelson is still doing well. I really did buy a TMNT t-shirt. Nelson’s never been more proud of me. Also, no update on J. Murray's car, Barack Obama, but Nelson and I sent him a fruit-basket, for just-in-cases.

Well, that catches you up on things. Hope all is well. Let’s make plans to meet back here on March 17th for that awesome post that is currently ready and waitin'. I've said it before, and I'll say it all night: you’re going to love it. Feel free to wear green between now and then. I know I will.

Seriously, as an update on things in my life that are really-really important, at least in the traditional sense, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but man, that day is quickly approaching. And know that I am somewhere having a panic attack. Also, as far as Kingsport, TN goes, what in the hell are they doing to those roads? I mean really. It's kind of a cry for help out there. "Grooved Pavement?" hell's bells, more like: "Good Luck Making It Out Alive."

Yours,
katie beth











...let's touch gloves again. you know, for old time's sake.

the secret wish of a saab.

Man, this blog is on a roll*sidenote: alright, sometimes I read back over these while I listen to some of those videos that I have posted and I saw where I had said "man, this blog is on a 'role.' " isn't that just the saddest? Homophones and I have a love/hate relationship. Actually, it's mostly hate. I hope there aren't any more major grammatical errors. I don't want to lose my credibility, but if there are and you notice, just try and overlook them.

Anyhow, we’re wearin’ it out and tearin’ it up. It’s bloggy-goodness. And it’s all for your entertainment. But, this one isn’t for entertainment, per se. This is a serious topic: the other day, there was a bit of a scare. Upon leaving the appropriately named Food City Gas N’ Go, my car had a serious leak. And I had just put forty dollars in it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: times is hard.

It may be asking too much, but it seems like they could have offered some sort of refund. Don't you agree? Or that lady behind the counter could have at least offered a solo cup so I could try and catch some of it. Cause I would have. Gas for your auto-mo-bile is worth more than its weight in gold, whatever that means.

Anyhow, it’s important that I go ahead and tell you that my car is a green Saab. I come from a long-line of Saab lovers. It’s in my genetic code to appreciate Saabs for all that they are and trust me, I do. My Saab’s name is Nelson Mandela. I decided that the car really looked like a “Nelson,” and so, naturally, the line of succession towards coming up with a last name led me right-straight to “Mandela.”

And what better way to honor the guy? I feel like if Nelson really were a person, he would be a lot like Nelson Mandela and someday Morgan Freeman would play him in a movie. Anyway, when you lose something, even if it is only for a day, you really do start to realize how much you love it.

And so, there I was, sitting around and I could see Nelson out of practically every window in my house. And he looked so helpless. And that damn gas just kept on leaking. And I started thinking about that one Saturday a few weekends ago when it was really nice and warm here in east-tennessee…

I decided that I would go out in the front yard and wash the car. It was pretty fun and we really got to know each other on an even deeper level because once I was done, I opened up the door of the passenger’s side, got in, laid back the seat, and took a nap. Cause, really, what’s the point of having your own car if you can’t go out in your driveway and take a nap in it?

Anyhow, I was out there for a while and I had a dream:

*FIRST: it is requested that you click that video somewhere on here of the song "The Sound of Silence," to get the full effect of what is about to follow. You'll probably have to scroll down for it. And know that this song should have been on that Top 50 List. Was it on there? I don't think it was and I don't think I have the strength to go back and look. Reading some of these things will make you go cross-eyed. Sorry about that.

Anyway, has it loaded yet? I'm stretching for time because you need to wait until it starts playing. Trust me. It's worth it. It really gives the effect of bringing you into the importance of this story.

So, I'll go somewhere else while we're waiting for you to get through those people cheering. I also posted a new video at the top of the list of really good songs. It's the one called "Lenny/Man on the Side" and it really is the greatest thing by John Clayton Mayer. I know I said it was "Hummingbird," but this song is where we really fell in love. And I can tell you the background story behind that guitar he's playing. I sure do hope that you would want to hear it. Anyway, when you're done reading this post, feel free to stick around and listen to that song, but not yet. We have to finish this first:

Okay, now you can keep on reading about the dream I had in the driveway:

Nelson was real. And he was, in fact, talking to me. Do you know what he said? He told me that if he could do it all over again, he would want to come back as one thing and that one thing would be very green, just like him.

He said he wanted to come back as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Yes, that’s exactly what he said. And my dreams are often accompanied by mood music: in this dream, it was "The Sound of Silence" by Paul & Art. I can call them that because we're on a first-name-basis. And it was so apropos. And we just sat there, looking at each other. I felt like I was witnessing the most incredible monologue of my life. Macbeth: you and your tale of tragedy only pales in comparison.

Then, I woke up.

So, naturally, when Nelson wasn’t feeling too well the other day, that’s all I could think about. Nelson and his wish of becoming a lean-green-fighting-machine (should there have been a "mean" in that? I can't remember)and I thought about that song. And that song really set the tone and the tone was heavy...

But don't worry because it's okay now. Thankfully, my dad fixed the car. And you should know that Nelson is well, he is here with me. His problems have indeed been fixed. And now I feel like he really looks like himself again. And really, he looks a lot like what he wanted to in my dream. I guess that means that his wish is kind of coming true. Maybe I'll buy him a bandanna.

Yes, my mind is a bizarre place to be, but it’s in the best-sort-of-way. That's what I think, anyhow.

I hope that, if you have a car, you really take the time to get to know it. Does that sound slightly crazy? Well, I don't care. I feel like you now know enough about me to understand where I'm coming from because they can really change your life and they’re better for more than just getting you from point A to point B. And if you don’t have one yet, I hope you'll really consider putting a Saab in your life. There’s not too many that could even compare.

PLUS, they make for awesome dreams.

So, here’s to Nelson. Let’s consider this his welcome back party. He really likes cool man Miles, just like me. That’s why we’re so tight. So, once that one by S+G is over, or when ever you grow tired of it, be it the song or those weird faces that Art has been making this whole time, feel free to go ahead and bump that last video over there by Miles Davis, in honor of Nelson. And turn-it-up-real-loud.

And like I said before, my mind is, in fact, a truly bizarre place to come and visit, but I sure do hope that you like hearing what it has to say.

In conclusion, I imagine that I'll fall asleep tonight and I'll dream again. And Nelson will tell me how much he appreciates his story and his wish being told.

Also, if your name is J. Murray and you're reading this, I hope your car, whose name is Barack Obama, doesn't have cancer. I don't think they've developed chemo therapy for automobiles yet. But, hey. With the way things are going over at Apple, anything is possible. i-pad? seriously. who needs that?

Yours,
katie beth
…& nelson (honorary member of the TMNT)

life in technicolor.

So, let's kick this off with an important question: have you ever had the pleasure of listening to the song “life in technicolor,” by those giants Coldplay? You’ve gotta check it out. It doesn’t matter how many times I listen to it, I still can’t get over it. I love music like that. So much so, that I’m going to dedicate this post to the songs that I just simply can’t get over.

[SPOILER ALERT: as a direct result of the list at the end, (no, don't scroll down yet. it's not the time and you'll be seeing it too soon) this is an awfully long post. If you’re not in it to win it, go ahead and venture somewhere else. This is for true fans of the blog, and therefore, the people that I will endlessly love]

…decided to stay? well, it's official: I really like you.

When I say that I can’t get over these songs, I mean that I can’t wrap my head around their awesomeness. You know, they're the ones that you hear and you find yourself talking in all capitals about them and if people tell you to "calm down" or "be quiet" you just move onto the next person, anyone, who's willing to listen. And you get them to sit down in front of the nearest computer and you frantically pull up a video and wait for their expression to change because you've brought them to something so incredible.

With these certain songs, I can come close to fully understanding all that they are, but then, I just never get there; and that’s the best part.

The best things (or in this case, songs) in our lives are those that we can’t completely understand. Lyrically speaking, you can hear a song and feel like you’ve understood the meaning, but you can turn around five years later, hear the same thing and have a totally different understanding. Music’s pretty incredible that way.

That’s a great feeling. You know when you hear a song and it finally hits you; you never really got it until this very moment? Well, I love that. And I sure do hope that you do, too.

I also love sitting down and thinking about how music can come full circle. One of the best things is to see what I first started listening to and then seeing what I listen to now, or rather, hear. No matter how many people I hear that I think I could love more than I love John Mayer, I still give him credit.

I give lots of credit to JM’s songs because they were my first musical loves. I know that sounds sort of ridiculous, but I really mean it. When I was about twelve or thirteen, I woke up and turned on my TV. The channel locked in was VH1 and it was once again time for some sort of countdown. Anyway, I saw the video for “No Such Thing,” and that was pretty much it.

At that point in my life I could have easily been swallowed into the succubus of giggly pop, but instead, I heard my main man JM and thought he was pretty alright.

Now, I listen to new people. And I feel like, in some sort of way, that I owe John Clayton Mayer a whole-hell-of-a-lot of credit. I wouldn’t appreciate the people that I just can’t enough of now if I hadn’t first heard him.

I posted a video of the best thing he’s ever done. Keep with it, even through the whistling. It’s not that I don’t like the sound of the whistle, I just get jealous cause I can’t do it. Anyhow, I hope it changes your life. It sure did for me. And I really like it because it was back when JM wasn’t all that well-known. He was still just keeping it real.

Anyhow, I know that got a little tough to follow, but I sure hope you got it. I’ve listed some of the songs by people that I want - nay - need you to check out and if you've already heard them, go back and bump them again because they certainly deserve it.

Also, here’s to never forgetting our first musical loves. May we be proudly belting out their lyrics years from now during their farewell tours.

Yours,
katie beth

In no particular order: these are the songs that, upon first hearing, really did something for me. I hope they continue to do something for you:

1. “No Such Thing” John Clayton Mayer

2. “I Will" Alison Krauss + Union Station

3. “It Never Entered My Mind” Miles Davis

4. “Smoothie Song” Nickel Creek

5. “Broadway" Alison Krauss + Union Station

6. “Skinny Love” Bon Iver

7. “Moth’s Wings” Passion Pit

8. “The Guy that Says Goodbye” Griffin House

9. “Closing Time” Semisonic

10. “Bittersweet Symphony" The Verve

11. “Little Secrets” Passion Pit

12. “Things an Old Man Keeps” Ghosts in the Woods

13. “Island, IS” Volcano Choir

14. “Help I’m Alive” Metric

15. “Man on the Side” John Clayton Mayer

16. “Out of the Woods” Nickel Creek

17. “Forty Mile Town” Eric Johnson

18. “Fix It” Ryan Adams

19. “Little Lion Man” Mumford & Sons

20. “Blackie’s Dead” Pete Yorn + Scarlett Johansson

21. “Lump Sum" Bon Iver

22. “She Is” The Fray

23. “The Cape” Eric Bibb

24. “First Day of My Life” Bright Eyes

25. “Vultures” John Mayer Trio

26. “Crazy Faith” Alison Krauss + Union Station

27. “Cannonball” Ghosts in the Woods

28. “Stick With Me Baby” Robert Plant + Alison Krauss

29. “Fake Empire” The National

30. “The Cave” Mumford & Sons

31.“Fast Car” Tracy Chapman

32. “Angels” Flight of the Conchords

33. “I’ve Seen All Good People” Yes

34. “Sex On Fire” Kings of Leon

35. “Still” Volcano Choir

36. “Re: Stacks” Bon Iver

37. “Over My Head” Martin Sexton

38. “Get Me Through December” Alison Krauss

39. “Let Your Love Grow Tall” Passion Pit

40. “Born” Over the Rhine

41. “Hometown Glory” Adele

42. “Happy” Brandi Carlile

43. “Drunkard’s Prayer” Over the Rhine

44. “Red Light” Jonny Lang

45. “In Your Atmosphere” John Clayton Mayer

46. “Hummingbird” John Clayton Mayer

47. “This I Know” Sam + Ruby

48. “Keep it Loose, Keep It Tight" Amos Lee

49. “Let My Love Open The Door" Pete Townshend + Raphael Rudd

50. “Life in Technicolor” Coldplay

Well, friends, sorry it got to be so long, but I just couldn’t stop myself. And I posted a few videos by some of the very-very favorites that found their way onto this ground-breaking list. I probably could have kept going, but it’s getting to be a little much. And I feel like I’m going to go the rest of the day and night just thinking of songs that should have been on this list, but I digress.

Consider it a top 50, but also consider that I have a new favorite song every day. Make yourself a date with this list and look these songs up and look hard. And really do it, people. These are epic songs that will, no doubt, change your life. yes, even the one by Flight of the Conchords.

to whoever is still reading this: “thanks for sticking around.”
to John Clayton Mayer: “thanks for being the first.”