Chapel Hill raison d'etre

I first heard Jay Bilas say raison d'etre (to Matt Doherty) on ESPN last year and I've been waiting to use it ever since I learnt the phrase. Surely I'm using it wrong.

The first music recommendation from the blog goes to Josh Ritter. Justly describing any band or musician with my limited words is impossible but Ritter falls in the folk-rock category. His influences are mainly cited as Dylan, Springsteen, Leonard Cohen. I first started hearing his music after the release of his 2003 record Hello Starling. Particularly the song Kathleen from that record stuck with me and I finally picked it up and loved it. I kept it in my car, enjoyed it on a regular basis but didn't think of Ritter as more than another talented young musician, albeit one who happened to make a great record.

Then I see he's playing the Cat's Cradle here in town but it's on a Monday(!) night. Only the big guns can pull off a Monday night show in a town with only 50,000 people, and I would think Josh isn't one to do it - that should be a sparse crowd! I was doubtful I'd be going because he has a new record (but I like the old one!) and it's supposedly inspired by the hell of war we got going on (not another political message, please!) and it's on a Monday night! (that means being the dorky alone guy).

Okay, so then the local weekly did a little feature on Josh calling his new record "the best album from an under-30 guy-with-guitar that has been released in 2006" and they provided an audio link to Thin Blue Flame, the epic war song on the record (supposedly). So I listened to the song and I was really impressed at first listen. It doesn't sound like any political song and it's not. It's just great writing with an intense musical composition.

So I decided to go. My first great surprise was seeing a full house when I walked in - very heartened to see that on a Monday night. I quickly found the right spot to station my six-eight self where I would have excellent seeing and hearing without obstructing others - it's not so easy! But I found the sweet spot and Mr. Ritter came on shortly after I set up.

The band was dressed up nice and I didn't recognize Josh because in every picture of him I've seen he's got moppy hair and a serious expression. This Josh was clean cut, boyishly cute and had a big ol' grin on his face. He was definitely impressed with the size of the crowd. He looked to the audience, smiled and said "We're gonna have a hell of good time tonight." With that I let out one of my patented concert yelps.

It was a great great time. Everything was perfect. The crowd was enthusiastic and attentive. Ritter was funny and endearingly regular and artistic - he has a charming presence. Most of all the music was special. I see and hear scads of "critically acclaimed" music and much of it seems to blend in with all the rest. Josh Ritter crafts simple, beautiful songs that he delivers with a great spirit. After the show I picked up his new record, The Animal Years, listened to it today, and loved it. As the local paper noted, 90 percent of the record is "love-and-life songs," and the two "war" songs are incredible - no "message," just amazing song writing. I give it the full Daran Abbott Edmonds recommendation!

On the way home I celebrated my good fortune for living in Chapel Hill, NC. A place where I can jump in my car at 10pm, drive 5 minutes down the road to see an incredible band, be back in my bed by 12:15. On a Monday night. This is exactly why I moved here ten years ago. My raison d'etre (er somethin)!

Aunt Cate visits

Ruby's Aunt Cate visited last week from Austin, Texas. She was here for about 10 days which allowed us to have some good, relaxed fun. It also gave Ruby plenty of time to learn how to pronounce her name ("Khih!"). Ruby's lucky to have her Aunt Cate, who knows about neat stuff like bugs, plants, birds, music, food, and more. We wish Aunt Cate and Uncle Adam lived closer, but we also know how groovy Austin is and don't blame them for staying there.

And, congratulations to Cate for landing her "first real" job!!! PB & J's for all!!! :)

Ruby the Researcher & Garden Glory

Did you know Ruby was a scientist? It's true. As I type, she is actively contributing to scientific knowledge. By virtue of being a 19 month old toddler, Ruby is an unwitting participant in an EPA research study. (Al Gore would be proud). Actually, the study doesn't have much to do with the environment at all. For $120 plus a gift certificate to her favorite toy store, Ruby wears an "accelerometer" on a belt around her tummy which records all of her movements (with great precision, I might add). The two young ladies in the photograph are chemists (huh?) from a local research company who have come to transfer the data from her belt-computer onto a laptop. I saw her tantrums (yikes!), her peaceful stroller rides, and even her little nighttime wakings (we all have them, you know!) all there on the computer screen in their stark, empirical glory. The project she's involved in is trying to get data on babies' and toddlers' typical daily movements.

Here you see Ruby enjoying the kiddie pool WHILE doing important research. Don't worry, the accelerometer is waterproof! And surprisingly, it doesn't bother her at all.

On another front, the garden at 740 Williams Circle has (probably) hit its peak. During the cooler part of the growing season we enjoyed peas and about 10 fava beans. We then had quite the bean (green and yellow) harvest, though they've slowed down considerably. These days are all about tomatoes (Early Girl), cherry tomatoes (Sungold - incredible harvest and flavor, and I'll never plant anything else!), crookneck squash, zucchini, cucumbers and a few okras. I planted some basil from seedlings that I started from last year's seeds and have started a perennial herb garden with thyme, chives, sage, lavendar and mint.

Landscape-wise, I planted a couple trees earlier this spring: A red maple (Autumn Glory) for the eventual shade it will provide, along with its autumn glory; and a holly (Nellie R. Stevens) for evergreen privacy from the road. Daran's mom sent me two lilacs, one of which I have planted in a flower bed. I also started doing something cool called lasagna gardening. One such plot is at the bottom of the driveway and will eventually be a vegetable garden and the other is right out by the road and will take a wax myrtle (more privacy) and maybe another evergreen shrub or 2, along with some perennial flowers, or maybe a few other things.

Saturdays in Saxapahaw

Something that has become a Saturday tradition for us this summer is Saturdays in Saxapahaw. It is a combination of farmer's market, music, kids fun, and a picnic. The farmer's market is pretty small but mixed in with the fresh veggies and baked goods are refreshments like lemonade and wine.

The music we've seen has been excellent. The first band was the best - The Gospel Jubilators. They're an a cappella singing group that does gospel music in the style popular in the 40's and 50's - before gospel became more like pop music. So we were kickin it very old school a few Saturdays ago - Ruby prefers it old skool. This group is really good.

For perspective, the crowd sits up on a shaded, grassy hill above the stage. We like to grab a pizza on the way out of town (it's about a 20 minute drive) and bring a few beers along with milk & water for Ruby. We spread out a blanket and Ruby settles in for about 54 seconds before she is doing the meet-n-greet with the crowd. She likes to walk up to people, especially older kids, sitting on their blankets and stare at them until they acknowledge her. She then pretty much keeps staring at them but the people can tell that she likes them and they giggle with her and accept her style. Soon she makes her way into the parking lot and barrels through the farmer's market on the way to the water-filled canoe. This is where she spends most of her Saturdays in Saxapahaw.

Kirsten and I take turns chasing her around and supervising her social activity. Ruby likes to meet a little - eat a little - swim a little - wander a little - and, of course, cry a little. Generally we have to pack up and go about half-way through the show because her bedtime is 7 o'clock and she begins to breakdown if we push it too far. But while we're there she has a great time and it's fun for us to go to another town to see some live music and have a picnic. (clicking the photos makes 'em BIG)

This is something we're doing pretty regularly this summer so you locals should come join the fun! BTW, the weather right now in NC is unbelievable. For the people who've heard me obsessively mutter on and on about the dew point in the summertime, all you need to know is our dew point has been in the 50's lately! So that translates into temps in the low 80's during the day and in the 50's overnight. This is Christmas in July!

Apartment for Rent

Not feeling too much pressure to keep up this quality product, and, even though we haven't yet notified our family of what is going on here (blog-wise, that is), there are a couple of people who know about The 740 News. So we've got a couple of fans and the only way to keep them happy is to give them what they want!

To that end...

We are searching for a new tenant. Our little fella down there who has no furniture no TV no stereo no phone calls no bed and no desire to have face time with us is leaving. He apparently has a friend who needs a roommate. We are going to miss our guy something fierce. He paid his rent so relentlessly he often gave it to us early thinking it was late! He's been here a year and I'm not sure I've ever heard anything but the door close down there. He. is. a. dream! Or was.

So this is available to anyone willing to pay us 650 while not making a sound. Also while tolerating Ruby dropping the phone/remote/sippy cup/Elmo/books/herself to the floor. Plus her screaming tantrums. It's hard to put that in a want ad so we are currently getting 5-10 inquiries a day. I finally composed an email to reply back to prospective tenants outlining the completely one-sided arrangement we're looking for. Because we can't be showing this thing all day long!

Stay tuned.

Another holiday post

Greetings from the other literate family member! This is just a trial post, as I have never ever blogged before. Attached are a few pictures of Ruby that are a little newer than the ones the other guy posted. Happy 4th!

Kirsten

Happy 4th of July!

Oh what a day! This is generally the hottest day of the year (at least it seems that way) in North Carolina and today is no exception. We should be topping out around 96 or 97 degrees. But at least it's humid! (sarcasm).

We are using this day to launch our family blog. Married (check), house (check), child (check), blog (check). I think that completes the modern day American dream right there. Soon we will be blogging about our lives on a regular basis! I anticipate at least 3 maybe 4 people will be interested in keeping up.

Today we will celebrate by having our friends Mike & Jessica, along with their 7-month-old, Reuben, over for a little cookout.

Here is a picture of Ruby from one year ago today. Clicking it makes it big.

Happy Fourth of July!

Daran