10 positive things

About my husband
1. He makes me laugh every single day, sometimes even when I’m mad.
2. He asked me slow dance to George Michael last night, during the newsletter. We did.
3. He is a fun Daddy – did your Dad ever paint his team’s name on your belly?
4. He finds a way to tell me I am pretty almost every day.
5. He is smart, but don’t tell him I said that.
6. He is sexy and handsome (you can tell him I said that).
7. He has his own cowbell and it has a purpose.
8. He always drives.
9. He respects my AUTHOR-IT-EYE.
10. He does the dishes (usually).

About my kids
1. They are so freakin’ cute. I mean really pretty/handsome children.
2. They like to play while listening to movie soundtracks (it is funny).
3. Yesterday they asked me “what did you learn today?”
4. Jack says “OH MY GOD!”
5. They like to go on walks with me.
6. They tell me I’m a good cook. And they like to cook with me.
7. They invent things (scary things).
8. They love each other.
9. They make us say a prayer before dinner.
10. They are my excuse to watch movies with talking animals.

About my job
1. Are you kidding? I work at a record store. In the most beautiful town in Texas.
2. I meet the coolest, most interesting people. Sometimes they play music at my store. Billy Joe Shaver!
3. I learn about new good music EVERYDAY!
4. I now work on a Magazine (journalism – full circle).
5. I work with the funnest, craziest people.
6. Walt Wilkins is mandatory meeting night. BEAT THAT!
7. I have a personal assistant (think Karen Walker).
8. I help indie peeps get their start.
9. I work with my husband.
10. I can arrange my schedule to work for my family life.

Halloween 2006

LSM Gals 2007

Billy Joe Shaver @ LSM

Do you guys know that Michael has an amazing ability to notice talent? Seriously it goes way back. When he says someone has it, they do. A few weeks ago (maybe a little more), Michael started getting really excited about Ryan Bingham’s unreleased CD. I listened to it. I LOVE IT. Even Noah loves it. After hearing only one song, he asked to borrow it and he sat on the couch and listened to the whole thing. He has a good ear too. Well – we (LSM) are helping Ryan get the CD pressed and in return we are getting exclusive sales. We would NEVER do this if we didn’t absolutely love the CD.

So back to the show. I did miss my favorite song, but almost everything I heard was new to me. No matter what kind of music you listen to, there is probably that one country music song you love. Like for me it is a Willis Alan Ramsey song. I don’t want to suggest anything – you know your song. Ryan could be that guy one day – he could write those songs. Also – he rocks. It is the best mesh of country and rock I can think of. It makes me think of perfect orange Play-doh. When Noah gets red and yellow play-doh and mixes it – there are just clumps of red and yellow, but when Emily does it she takes her time squishing it together until she has the perfect orange. This is the same thing. Just think of how good Ryan will be years from now. His sound is unique – not easy to duplicate. The lyrics are deeper than usual, but totally catchy and accessible to anyone. I always seem to enjoy blue collar, workin’ man songs. You know – real people songs.

Matthew Smith play drums – he is cool to watch. There is no bass player, but I didn’t notice it much, because Matt has the rhythm covered. He kind of has this serious stare that says “challenge me, just try to fuck me up!”, he stares Ryan down like he could keep up with anything – which is good because Ryan plays the fastest acoustic guitar I have ever seen. Corby Schaub is the everything else sideman. He mostly plays mandolin, but there is much more to it. These guys are a great match for each other. We are selling the CDs now on LSM. Go listen to the sound files. Sunrise is my favorite, but the whole CD is good. There is not a bad song.

I got to see Ryan play in front of about 30 people tonight. I didn’t even take a bathroom break, because I was afraid I would miss something (if you know me well, you are impressed). One day Ryan is going to be someone’s Willis Alan Ramsey or Woody Guthrie. Maybe Noah’s. If you get the chance to see him play or even just to shake his hand and say “hi” take it. It will be worth your investment.

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