Till We Meet Again

Sorry we didn't get to the answers for the questions in the post below, but we've been busy getting ready to leave for here:
We'll get around to it sometime after May 4 when we are back from soaking up the Hawaiian sun on the beaches of Kona. So feel free to be jealous and for those who haven't asked any questions yet, go for it.

Goodbye Salt Lake, hello paradise.

Anything You'd Like To Know? Just Ask!

I won't volunteer Hallie for this, but I will volunteer myself for this. I mean, I know you're all dying to know more about me because I'm so rad, right? Just kidding. But I really like asking random questions to others who I've seen do this post and then hearing the answers.
For those unfamiliar with this check out Jesse's post. Basically though, you ask me questions and I'll answer. So ask away!

I want to play too! So go ahead and ask me too! Love Hallie

Who Needs A Motorcycle When You Have A Scooter?

Last fall I found out that one of my good friends from my mission had bought a scooter last spring, but by the time we both found out we were proud scooter owners, it was too late in the season to take a good ride. Since that time we have been eagerly awaiting the first opportunity for us to ride and that finally happened on Saturday.

Like a young child on Christmas morning I woke up early (5:45 a.m. early) from the pending excitment of this much anticipated dual scooter ride. After some previoulsy postponed rides due to weather matters, this was inevitably the divinly blessed weekend and nothing would stop us. I met Sandall at Fashion Place Mall before noon and we began on our journey to Provo/Orem. Why you may ask as many have already? Well, as I told some, "Because we can." But really we just wanted our first official ride to be epic and to have a somewhat far off destination, so we figured Provo/Orem was an adequate ride for such an occasion.

Crusing at an average of 45 mph we made it in what seemed like decent time. On our way there we actually were passed by Hallie and one of her (our) friends on the way to a baby shower in Highland. Pretty random. After reaching our destination, we stopped and refueled our bodies at Arby's and then headed to UVSC for a photo op, to prove we had really made our journey.

After our triumphant photos, we began an equally triumphant ride home. And why shouldn't we have felt accomplished? I mean, round trip and running from here to there before and after would put us at somewhere near 100 miles for the day. The ride home was just as blissful as the one there, minus me totally laying my bike out and sliding with it on top of me a good 15-20 feet. Thankfully, the only thing damaged was my confidence. I hit the brakes to avoid a van that wasn't planning on stopping (I thought I had the right of way and that it was a 4-way stop situation you see) and everything went out from under me and I braced for impact. Could've been worse. Although my pride was shattered, especially since there were four motorcycle dudes that witness my idiocy, I couldn't stop laughing after I found myself and my scooter in 98% undamaged condidtion. The scooter gods were with me and I'm sure the real God too.

I Don't Get It...Wait...Got It

I was listening to some music today and thought back to when I originally heard it and how I, at first, didn't appreciate it the same as I do now and I got to thinking about other Artists and albums that took some unraveling to fully understand.
What are some Artists and albums that took a few listens for you to appreciate and fully "Get it," and once you did, couldn't get enough?

Here's 5 of mine:
1. The Promise Ring-Woodwater

2. Coheed & Cambria-In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

3. Pedro The Lion-It's Hard To Find A Friend

4. Frightened Rabbit-Sing The Greys

5. Neutral Milk Hotel-In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

Ok, I can't help myself:
6. Thrice-Vheissu


I'm aware that I've gone crazy with posts lately, but sometimes you've got it, sometimes you don't.

SO LONG & THANKS FOR ALL THE TUNES

Over the weekend I found out that Hallie's favorite and one of my favorite bands, The Format, have broken up. Having only released two proper records, this comes as a bit of a shock. I thought we'd be seeing much more from these AZ boys and their band, but alas, we shall not. Their live show was fantastic and they were growing in popularity by leaps and bounds. Hallie first saw them at the Funpark roller rink in Logan, while I first saw them at Kilby Court. The next time we saw them together and it was to a packed house at In The Venue. They were definitely on the up and up.

For me, The Format have a special niche in my heart for this reason: when I started to hang out with Hallie, her and her friend Liza were always obsessing over The Format and upon my first listen, I wasn't impressed. The music was too poppy for my tastes. At a pivotal point in our dating, Hallie went on a vacation, which prevented us from seeing each other for over two weeks. And let's face it, when you're in that almost-serious, but not all-the-way-serious phase of dating, that's an important juncture in the road. While she was gone I missed her a lot and where she was, there wasn't any cell phone access. So the closest I could get to communicating with her was by listening to The Format. In some weird way, I felt connected to her, though we were apart, simply by coming to appreciate a band that she was very fond of. Whenever I listen to that album, I still have flashbacks of nights driving in my car missing this girl I was starting to get serious with-mushy, mushy, I know, but true. When she returned, I told her I'd been converted to The Format (personally, I think it scored me a few points), and as they say, "The rest is history."

My farewell to a great indie-pop band that was in all actuality, much more than a pop band:
*This video, I think, captures the essence of the band: simple and unrestrained*

*And this one shows their creative abilities*

Girls Night Out

Once a month we have girls night with a bunch of the girls I work with. Last night I stopped at Albertsons on my way to pick up some drinks for our festivities, I always buy something like sparkling grape juice for those in the group who don't drink but last night I went out on a limb and bought a 6 pack of "Apple Beer". At the check out I hand over the cash and the cashier looks at me and says "I.D. please", I am confused and start laughing "No I need I.D., you no look old enough" so I realize he is serious and I show him and he hands me the 6 pack that says in big letters "Non-Alcoholic". Good thing I didn't go for the 12 pack of Root Beer!

Party Shuffle

As usual, Lacey has come up with an interesting game to see where we gravitate musically. Here's what to do:
1. Go to your iTunes library
2. Click on Party Shuffle
3. List the first 10 that come up and tell about them

Here's mine:

1. Ensign, Hold (I discovered these guys my senior year of high school. Great hardcore band with lyrics so positive that most could be printed in the LDS church's ENSIGN magazine.)
2. Amos Lee, Colors (Great folk musician that was introduced to me a couple years ago and I haven't been able to get enough since. Lee's amazing voice, thoughtful lyrics and classic folk/bluesy guitar work is addicting.)
3. The Decemberists, Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect (To me, The Decemberists are the essence of a good indie rock band. Even their major label debut, The Crane Wife, kept the feel of their music real.)
4. Tiger Army, Grey Dawn Breaking (A powerful song, from a powerful album, by a powerful band. Tiger Army are deemed psychobilly, which is basically a keyword for rock-a-billy and punk rock put together. Think Stray Cats meets punk rock.)
5. Bright Eyes, Emily, Sing Something Sweet (This song dates back to 1995-1997 and comes from the album, A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded (1995-1997). A pretty early, raw recording from a very prolific singer/songwriter.)
6. Joni Mitchell, The Circle Game (Joni Mitchell is one of Hallie's favorite Artists and once I began listening to her, it was easy to see why she is spoken of with such high acclaim not only by Hallie, but the music industry at large.)
7. Skid Row, Big Guns (Hands down one of the most awesome glam/metal/rock bands of the 80s and 90s and this song is no exception as to why. Who doesn't love some heavy butt rock guitars, high screamy voices, anthemic choruses and tight leather pants? Come on, you know there's an 80s rock band that is a guilty pleasure for you.)
8. Gorilla Biscuits, Finish What You Started (Hailed as one of the first hardcore bands to bring in melodic vocals to the ordered chaos, CIV and his pals in GB spewed out so many positive hardcore/youth crew classics that their name holds a certain level of untouchable respect. This song gives inspiration to do just what it's title says.)
9. Bing Crosby, White Christmas (Arguably his best work movie and music-wise. This movie is a Christmas tradition for Hallie, her sister and her dad. It was hard to swallow for me for the first couple times, but now I can't have Christmas without it either.)
10. Pavement, Jackals, False Grails: The Lonesome Era (I regret that I just started listening to Pavement over the last several months. I've always heard people talk about them, but have never done any listening myself. It's amazing to see how many bands' sound have been influenced by them.)

There's mine-what are yours? Leave a comment or create your own post and let me know so I can check it!

Cat Nap

While Hallie was taking a cat nap the other day, she was consequently conquered by our cat Ellie.

Daniel Johnston

Saturday night I watched The Devil and Daniel Johnston and yes, I'm aware I was a bit late in seeing this, but I want to recommend it to those like myself who might be late in seeing it. The movie premiered at Sundance in 2005 and is a documentary about the life of Mr. Johnston up until the present day and all his battles with his manic depression, his internal fight between good & evil and his musical and artistic journey through these things. Many artists, such as Wilco, Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Beck, etc, have recognized his song writing ability and covered his work over the years. Chances are, there are songs and artwork you've loved and never known it came from the genius and troubled mind of Daniel Johnston.
Here is a clip/song from the movie:
Story of an Artist by Daniel Johnston:


Randomly enough he is playing at In The Venue this Thursday. Personally, I would love to go, but I don't know if I could handle seeing him in his current condition-very sad, but hopeful in a way since he is still pressing on. If you go you might hear gems like this: