Pics & Thoughts from Newport 2014: Pt. II

Hello everyone. Hope you all had a good week.

To be honest, I simply haven't felt like writing lately. I have lots to write about, and lots of half-written posts... I just am not feeling the need to work on any of them at the moment.

I'm still pretty beat; it's been a long, less-than-fun... well, few years, as a glance at the blog would show. I'm fine, but I suspect the toll of that journey is a big part of feeling this way.

But instead of feeling guilty, as "the boy" would have, I'm just going with it. I'll start writing again when the mood strikes. Perhaps it will be tomorrow, perhaps a week, or a month, or more. I don't know.

I have things I want to write about, because it helps me process them. But right now, I want to simply be. I've been consumed by a number of activities and episodes, both professional and (especially) personal that have required expending a great deal of energy, but have offered little - or, if I'm honest, no - return.

Well, that is going to change. And the beginning of that process is learning how to take some of that energy that I've been expending on other things and other people and start spending it on myself.

It's about time, to be blunt.

Because if I don't do it, then no one else will.

So... I will.

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Still Here :)

Apologies for the radio silence; things have been frantic for the past few months. Every time I thought they were slowing down... they did not.

It has been a long, hard year so far.

And I am exhausted.

But I am taking a mini-vacation, starting Friday, to attend the Newport Folk Festival.

So relief is on the way.

More to follow on this.

Promise.

In the meantime, a recent pic, and a few artists I look forward to seeing this weekend.

Stay cool, everyone!

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Wilco:

Ryan Adams:

Trampled By Turtles:

Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer (this is stunning):

And these folks are just the tip of the iceberg! :)

Quick Update - And More Newport Artists!

Trying to catch my breath after a frantic, sleep-deprived week. Work has been hellish, per usual, especially trying to wrap up things before going on my mini-Newport Folk Fest-vacation for a few days.

I'll write more tomorrow, but the short version is that I have an interview tomorrow morning for a new job. Yea!!!

This happened REALLY fast. I did a phone screen two weeks ago, then didn't hear anything until this afternoon. There was some confusion (more in my next post), but essentially I did a second phone screen with no advance notice this afternoon. Always a good way to unwind after a harrowing day at the office. lol

It must have gone OK, because they asked if I could do an in-person interview - tomorrow morning. I sort of stammered that I was supposed to head to Newport, but they explained that the hiring manager was going on vacation for two weeks as of noon tomorrow, so this was the only time that worked. Needless to say, I said no problem.

This would be a really, really good opportunity. Much more stable than my current situation, which feels more and more like a nightmare with each passing day. So please send some positive vibes my way tomorrow morning; they will be much appreciated! And I will return them a thousand-fold as I wind my way to Newport as soon as the interview is over - promise!!!

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As promised, more of the Newport artists I most want to see:

My Morning Jacket, who are an AMAZING live band. Watch this tremendous performance of "One Big Holiday" on the old Conan O'Brien show and be awed:

Patty Griffin, an astonishingly good singer and songwriter (and current main squeeze of one Robert Plant - rumor is he may grace us with his presence!):

And Trampled By Turtles, a way-cool, turbo-charged bluegrass group from the great state of Minnesota:

They're all barely 36 hours away! Woo-hoo!!!

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Oh - and this is my 100th post!!!! I am a chatty Kathy since I started transitioning! lol

My favorite new band :c)

I had a full weekend of music, but the highlight was River City Extension. I'd heard they were a great live band, but nothing prepared me for actually seeing them. The video below is pretty great, but they topped it on Saturday. Enjoy!

And Trampled By Turtles were also a lot of fun. (How could they not be with a name like that?)

I don't know where I'd be without great music like this. There were many, many times when music was the only thing that kept me going. So thanks to all the great musicians out there for what you do!