This year I modified my format slightly, to try to keep up with the changes in media and technology that have occurred over the past few years. And instead of trying to merge half-year into full year, I’m just going to add-on with separate sections for Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec.

MUSIC (Formerly "2012 Albums" & "Albums From Previous Years Heard For The ( Read more... )

Day 8: Our first free day of the tour; no shows, no obligations to meet anyone, just a day on our own in Colchester, England's oldest settlement. And of course it was pouring rain most of the day. (Supposedly they got an entire September's worth of rain in 2 days.) That's OK though, there must be some great indoor museums? Oooh, there's a Natural ( Read more... )

Day 4, cont: Mark & Helen from Nottingham band Fun Of The Pier graciously offered to loan us equipment & be our backing band, as well as letting us stay at their house and meet their cats. One of the cats, Soy, immediately loved us. The other, Simon, hid the whole time. Upon arrival we did a run-though of all of our tour songs in their music room, ( Read more... )

Day 1 & 2: We were surprised to find not only Ron Kane, but the other Eagle Brothers (Karla's dad's friends) at the airport. It turns out they had planned all along to go to our Ramsgate show. Is that great, or what? Plane was uncomfortable and somehow I had the worst possible seat (right in the middle of the middle section) even though I'm sure we ( Read more... )

Instructions: Comment to this post, and I will list five things I associate with you. They might make sense or they might be totally random. Then post that list, with your commentary, to your LJ (or just add a reply back to me). Other people (including me) can get lists from you, and the meme merrily perpetuates itself.

5 things from stacyinthecity:

1. Climate ( Read more... )

Quick UK tour update ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

If I only learned one important fact from the 5-1/2 hour old men in Liverpool documentary (and I did), it is this: the Cormorant is the official symbol of the city of Liverpool. There are Cormorants on Liverpool's clock towers, on the logos of their football club and university, and a stone mural of a Cormorant done by Cynthia Lennon adorns the ( Read more... )

Please wish goldenmoonbear good luck at her job interview.

As you know, my two favorite things are birds and England, which means that this is the worst news I've heard in a long time.

9 hours until the arrival of Dad.

EDIT: Just realized that most of you probably don't subscribe to the UK Independent's premium website, so here's the full story. ( Disaster at Sea: Global Warming Hits UK Birds
by Michael McCarthy )

I can't believe it's the last day of our trip. I also can't believe someone took the time and effort to write such a grandiose, epic opera about Jerry Springer and that I paid so much money to go see it. I thought it would be some jokey thing, which it kind of is, but it really is a legitimate opera, complete with Vikings, explosions, Hell and a ( Read more... )