Fitz & The Tantrums

It's a new year and, if things go well, the NYE programs will expose me to something that I've never heard before that I think is pretty cool.

I was beginning to wonder. Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark brought me NKOTB and the Backstreet Boys and Ke$ha. Carson Daly paraded out a kid from Oklahoma that sings covers of songs by Lady Gaga. It wasn't until well after midnight that a new face on the NYE front saved the night. Of all people, it was Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates fame.

He had a great show on called New Year's Eve at Daryl's House (that I hope shows up again next year). He sang with several different musicians and this guy was one of them. Daryl said people say "he's the new Daryl Hall". You know, I can totally hear that, and it's refreshing! Go ahead. Close your eyes when you listen to this song and tell me you don't hear a similarity. It's almost uncanny!

This is the song Daryl sang with him and it sounded SOOO good! Thanks, Daryl and thanks to Fitz & The Tantrums for saving the night.

Single Grain of Faith

I love it when I hear a song from my past that I loved when it came out but it was lost to new music over the years. This is one such song. I bought the CD for this song and this song only. I listened to it a lot when it came out 14 years ago.

Tonight, I was just browsing around on iTunes and looking through their CCM section. I saw David Phelps had a new Christmas CD out, so does Russ Taff. Those guys triggered thoughts of this song and hear I am listening to it again. Now, I'm sharing it with you.

This performance is a slightly different mix than what is on the CD, but it'll do. The chorus is what I really like about this song. And, the message ain't to bad, either.

Channeling Acoustic Legends

A friend of mine in the group Selah posted a tweet about this guy today so I went to his website to check out his music. Holy Cow! I'll be darned if Jeffrey East didn't channel Kenny Loggins when "Bein' Loved By You" was written. Or maybe it's James Taylor. He performs it just fine but if Mr. Loggins and Mr. Taylor are ever looking for material, one of them totally needs to connect with Mr. East. I really like this song. Feel free to share your thoughts. If you don't like it, don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings. But, East might feel slighted.

If You Love Kansas

Someone I follow on Twitter posted a link to this blog entry about Kansas and it really struck a chord with me. I was born in Kansas, raised in Kansas, left Kansas to live in the beautiful state of Tennessee, and still chose to move back to this "dry, boring, plain, miserable, windy, dull, sucky, wasteland state". You read that correctly. I chose to move back. I could of stayed in the south in the wonderful city of Nashville where there is always something happening, but honestly, it doesn't hold a candle to Kansas. Every time I'd travel home, something kept pulling at me. Driving through the flint hills, seeing the wild sunflowers, enjoying the huge never-ending blue sky, feeling the biting winter wind against my skin...it's all part of me and I can't let it go. Sometimes you have to leave a place to truly see how special it is.

The only adjective listed above that Kansas qualifies to use is "windy". The wind shows its face quite often and can cause a ruckus when it wants to. Even then, there are more days than I can count that were so still and motionless, where the only evidence of any activity around me was the movement of air from my own breathing.

Kansas is a wonderful place, and I'm glad a lot of people don't see that. The open spaces stay wide, the sky stays blue, the air stays fresh, the beauty stays natural, the flowers stay sunny, nature stays wild, and there's more Kansas for me to enjoy.

This girl gets it, and I had to link to her blog entry. Set all of your Kansas stereotypes aside and read what she has to say. It helped me realize my appreciation for all that surrounds me and to know there is no shame in calling Kansas home.

Wimmer Wimmer Chicken Dinner: Dorothy's Slippers Are Definitely Not Here

Better Than A Hallelujah

The song didn't grab me at first, but the video sure did. Here's a new one from Amy Grant.

Wine's I Want to Try

A couple of years ago, we stopped in at Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill in Kansas City for dinner. It was the beginning of my venture into the world of wine. We didn't have any that night but I wrote down some selections from their wine list that I thought sounded good. I'm posting them here so I can finally get rid of this piece of paper that clutters my desk. I still haven't tried these wines. I've been busy. Look out, grapes. One day, I will drink you.

• Beringer White Zinfandel (sweet wine w/rich berry flavors)
• Rex Goliath Pinot Noir (light raspberry, red cherry & cinnamon flavors)
• Ravenswood Vintner's Blend Zinfandel (lush raspberry, blueberry & black cherry flavors)
• Ravenswood Vintner's Blend Shiraz (rich black currant & chocolate flavors)
• Robert Mondavi Prvate Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (rich dark cherry fruit & chocolate flavors)
• Toasted Head Cabernet Sauvignon (black cherry chocolate coffee)
• Wild Horse Merlot (wild berry & mocha)
• Fess Parker Pinot Noir (cherry & red berry flavors w/spice, smoke & herbal nuances)

The Hornet Hustle (updated 08.09.10)

I've only participated in a 5K two other times in my life. That was for the Wichita Corporate Challenge and I walked both of them. Yeah, I was still a sweaty mess at the end of the course but that's what I do during the warmer months. I sweat. This will be no different, except that I might run part of the way. Bar the door and hide the children! Did I just say run? I did, and by run, I mean jog...slowly...and sporadically. But, for those of you who are more skilled and comfortable runners than I am, I post this information for you. I couldn't find anything on the web for this, so I'm providing my blog to help promote the cause. The brochure above explains the purpose and provides details for the fun run. Update - You can click here to print off a registration form. Feel free to share this link with your other running friends if you think they'd be interested. And if they don't want to run, they can walk. And if you guys are really ambitious, you can do all 3 at no additional cost! Sweet! Anyway, I'll be there, my family will be there, and I hope to see you there! Let's do this!