Love is a special way of feeling

Fun Loco

2011-01-05T09:05:00.001-08:00

The winter holiday was such a whirlwind tour of friendship and nostalgic laughter. I frantically spent the unaccounted for time to get all the promotion ready for my new album "Opportunity Cost." I am in grad school because I dislike promoting new projects and music so much that I would rather be an accountant. But I do really love playing with these talented dudes.

I then had a much needed hang out with my oldest girlfriends who are all married and a few babies usually in tow. But we actually had a night that reminded me of those amorphous moments when you are in your early twenties and nothing matters but your girls.

Then, I flew to NYC to snuggle under the wing of one of my best friends and biggest influences, Miss Lucy Lang. I also really wish that I had some super cute photos of my dear Linnea, but of course the picture taking only happened in intervals.

I have decided to steal and amend Linnea's new year's resolution by taking "doing better," and changing it to suit my compulsions. So I will be "getting better at everything" in 2011.

Haphazard tour of my house

2010-10-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

As I currently have four hours off from studying, interviewing and the like I thought I would take a little video trip around my house so peeps could take a look.

Gotta get this house on the interent

2010-09-18T13:10:00.001-07:00

I need to start getting photos up of my little perfect house. I know I am in crazy school land, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't give continuous props to my house!

Right now we got a ton of stink bugs, and Will let me know that our house is stink bug mecca because I am the Queen of the stink bugs.

As I ponder the move to global financial standards..

2010-09-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a moment at 59 Park Square
We got Will in the kitchen as usual being the best brother ever while I type away at something, or read incredibly bland journal articles.

Every detail

2010-08-01T10:04:00.001-07:00

Every single detail of my home inspires me. My daddy really loves shiny silver metals, especially galvanized steel, so here are his masterful gutters.

More countdown

2010-07-23T15:37:00.001-07:00

House count down begins

2010-07-18T19:52:00.001-07:00

Studyland dreams

2010-07-18T19:50:00.001-07:00

true love

2010-06-02T18:39:00.001-07:00

2 week old Emmett is the object of my affection!

Kauffmans sport the blue and brown

2010-05-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

Today was a terrific recording day with Seth Kauffman. I am truly understating how amazingly great it was. Soon enough you will hear my album and flip right out.

But enough about that. I wanted to draw the eye to the very specific and hip color palette that is adored and adopted in the Kauffman household.

Is corpses a word?

BBQ, corn pudding, the secret service, the Obamas and THE BEST DAY EVER!!

2010-04-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I have ever been so happy as I was yesterday when I met Barack and Michelle Obama. I imagined how fun it would be to have every one know you and feel close to you and you could just buddy up with anyone!!

Truly, our little gang felt the love pouring out as we shared our little slice of America with our president and first lady.
I only wish I had said something intelligent, rather than blabber and interrupt their lunch.
So here is what I wish I had said, " I am so happy you cam to our little town for vacation. I think Asheville embodies the new economy and the loveliness of America. We Ashevillians are more often than not living within our means as we strive to add beautiful things to the world. We are more often than not artists and entrepreneurs. We are more often than not environmentalist and gardeners. We are more often than not, micro economic wunderkind. I want Asheville to be an example of a healthy happy America, well it already is."

The house that Daddy is still building

2010-04-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

I went over to Chicken Hill today because I had to make final cabinetry decisions. I am so excited about my house and can't wait for every one of my lovely friends to sit in the kitchen with me, drinking espresso and reading different sections of the Wall Street Journal!

bunny drywall

2010-04-14T16:09:00.001-07:00

watch out chicken hill, 59 park square is ready to hang drywall.

being a mountain girl

2010-04-12T14:12:00.001-07:00

I did have to carry a cat on my hike yesterday: cats are pretty lazy. But a much needed walk up and over brown mountain made me feel very connected. And I remembered why I love living in these mountains.

I am gonna admit it

2010-04-09T09:34:00.001-07:00

I want to be listening to the radio and hear my own songs. I always talk this anti- famous antagonistic chatter and mostly I am right there, but sometimes I just want to hear my own songs on the radio

almost kills me

2010-04-07T13:24:00.001-07:00

Thankfully I take this exam tomorrow and go on with my life. I am looking forward to running and jumping into clear cool water.

the obvious things delight me

2010-04-05T09:32:00.001-07:00

today is a tough one. I am feeling limited motivation to be a school superstar and I long to be making songs. I gotta be tough and keep running and running toward the goal.

It was a good time machine

2010-04-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

I am back to blogging folks!
You may think this means I am less busy, but alas, it does not mean that. It means that I figured out how to blog from my phone!
Here are some images from last night to help tell the story of our debauchery...featuring JT, JDubbs, and this one.

can I move in yet?

2010-04-02T13:18:00.001-07:00

notice the shiny roof and the brand new little windows! My house is coming along

Heartache

2010-03-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

I miss writing songs.

The last song I wrote was about a gay penguin.

I know that once I finish most of this school nonsense I will sit on my porch with banji and write songs.

But that doesn't mean it doesn't ache the heart these days.

There is only one thing I love more than writing songs: sleeping.

I know I am suppose to be studying

2010-03-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, while you are "studying" you like to find your own performances on the Internet and peruse them.

I think I can overhear someone saying something nice about our style in this video.

Have to say this is not my best singing, but we had super fun and Joti and T Bone Ramsey sound amazing!!

Thanks world,
I will see you on the other side of GMAT!!!

And then I watched this!!!!!

Oh sweet blog

2010-02-12T09:18:00.001-08:00

I keep feeling anxious about neglecting my blog, and I thought the best thing to do was to explain to the few readers and to myself why I can't keep up with it at this very moment...

I gotta take the GMAT in a few weeks so every second I have goes to studying for that silly thing

I am in school again.

I have to go to work and make sure it all adds up

My daddy is building my house and all extra focus goes to that project

I am living in Cullowhee with mom and dad half of the time and that mountain is a technology void for me.

I got some musical shows I am really happy to participate in and want to work.

etc etc

I am not complaining at all. I am very very happy with all of these things that are happening, but I keep finding that blogging is last on the priority list.

The only thing that is hard is I miss all of the time I had for my musical life. I am doing all of this to get it back, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Please don't forget about me blog. I love you

I don't like traveling; I like being somewhere

2010-01-05T07:58:00.001-08:00

As I sit here in this french hotel room, bumped from my flight into a chocolate eating, obsessive frenzy, I want to reflect on some India moments that made me realize something......I hate traveling, but I really like being in many beautiful and different places, so much so that I will always endure these bumped flights and long bus rides, strange transit hotels and a lot of waiting around to get to places with people who make me laugh, strange ancient stories and smells that bring back lost memories. If only we had "burning trash" smell in America.

Here are some very funny buddies on the bus. Yup, Terry is fake sleeping to entertain me.

Will and I got invited to a 12 days old party in Arangaon Village where we got to hold a tiny tiny sleepy baby
Pia and Mehera hold the tiny one too!! Lots of snuggling.
Here is a video of Pia in her dad's pullover

I am obsessed with Jessie and Flint's cement tiles

Thank the lord above I got to spend some time with my brother, we honestly had such a hilarious time together in India, a great christmas and new year!!! My brother is really a true buddy.

Will gets spooked by crazy cow on our afternoon walk

Refreshing road side soda
We had such a good lunch at Leopold's (Yeah Bombay!!)

and we found the children's traffic training school
How can you resist foggy morning Mumbai?

Goat Pile!
Bye bye India and brother

It is hard to say goodbye

2009-12-11T01:19:00.000-08:00

A few last Parisienne moments before I say goodbye.

The progression of an excellent lunch, sitting under my beloved heat lamp outside, in Le Marais.

Then I passed this special shop.com
Don't try to go to the Picasso Museum, it may not be opened til 2012?

Bois de Bologne Dimanche, perfect for tree hugging

Another satisfying lunch, that circular yellow thing is an inch thick slab of CHEESE!!

And to say goodbye along the quai of the river Seine, Rive Gauche and loving it!!!!

Beignets!!!!!!!

2009-12-04T10:21:00.001-08:00

Around here, Noel is making people crazy and making me want one thing and one thing only...street food!!!!!!

Why, thank you Santa

Like, I said lunette stores everywhere, I wont stop snappin' em

Morning commute, notice which side I am on...thank the Lord.

Cool

2009-11-30T09:41:00.003-08:00

How could I have missed Cimitiere de Passy, which is on the other side of the building where I live. It is so special there, especially if you can find the graves of Debussy and Manet and a few others that are pretty exciting to come across. But of course, it is a cemetery, and when I saw "weird guy", I got freaked and had to leave. I will try again this week.

Don't ask me why I take photos of this stuff, it just has to happen.

I have these headphones, and I bought them at minx!!!
Le Marais is by far one of the best parts of the city, cuz my falaffel heaven is there along with sweet narrow streets.

Ok, now I will begin to show you one of the wonders of Paris: a place to purchase lunettes (glasses) on absolutely ever corner. Nobody else finds this hilarious. Oh more photos to come, these were just on my walk home from the Metro.

quelque

2009-11-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes this is what the sky looks like when you are eating your breakfast.
And sometimes this is the monkey your friend Suzie notices.

And sometimes you take a dumb video of your french class because you are too shy to take a photo of your teacher...but this was a really fun game, which I should probably teach to my brother so his Vietnamese students can play it in English. FYI my teacher is the one who can speak french with the impossibly awesome hair.

There are a lot of things you should not do in Paris

2009-11-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

First thing you should not do: go to the worst restaurant in Paris and maybe the worst for a good 50 mile radius from the zero point at Notre Dame.

Next, you should never forget to take a photo of the most amazingly bad plate of food at said worst restaurant. There are few things I regret and one of them is that I did not take a picture. The plate of food looked like each bit was trying to get away from the other bits, like the different foods didn't want to be seen together...all on a bed of completely bland lentils.

There is no way to describe it without the help of a photo and so I will stop and let these other photos tell of much happier times.

Well played, seriously out-of-tune piano

The Louvre can present all kinds of artistic possibility. Well curated outfits, I dare say. Yikes, seems she knew I was taking a photo of them

A toute à l’heure!

D'aprés moi...

2009-11-19T12:46:00.001-08:00

Welp, I am in Paris and of course am surrounded by the tres chic and the tres cher and the fromage and the coocoo, so I have decided to put up some photos that stylishly chronicle some of the things that have made me swoon.

That chinchilla reminds me of Michael Libramento..and yes, it fits nicely before the photos I took at the Ile de la cité.

ça va? OK, now we have traveled to someplace that is not as fancy as Notre Dame.

The tour eiffel puts on crazy psychedelic rock show every night, but I just want to show how this photo out the window from the couch is normal...right, that is normal?

Bonne nuit!

French misspellings

2009-11-14T05:36:00.000-08:00

I am here in Paris and have already misspelled just about everything I have taken note of. I am nervous about saying the right thing and wonder how, without saying a word, people can tell I speak english. I know that soon enough I will be way too comfortable, which means eating too many treats, because the damn treat party is just around the corner. we are talking every possible savory or sweet treat, buttery and tasty lives in the shop two minutes from the pillow I rest my head on.

There will be more tales to come especially because I start school on Monday.

One cement block at a time

2009-10-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

May not look like much, but slowly and surely there is more dream house there.

Footers

2009-10-16T18:19:00.001-07:00

It is very exciting to watch the progress of my house, especially when Dad lets me help. My friend Siara and I stopped by the job sight today to take a look, have a picnic and help Daddy measure stuff. It was so fun to walk around on the footers, nicely lodged into the earth. Hooray for real solid structure.

If you can see the strings, they show the actual level of the house, pretty cool huh?

Are kids really into this?

2009-10-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

or is it just me?

Clothes to live in

2009-09-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure until I saw you Peter Som. I can't believe I had any other interest in this September's new york fashion week. I can't believe I actually posted on other shows. This is it, Peter Som!!!!!

You can't help but smile

2009-09-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

I am not gonna say that New York fashion week has knocked my socks off. Nor will I admit that Nanette Lepone's show, which includes the three images shown here, knocked my hat off. But I have to say that these bright and enlivening colors literally made me feel less tired and brought a smile to my face. After show upon show of neutral "spring" colors and prints there is something to be said about one that brings the lightness and sparkle of some exotic dream to the runway. To me these are "play clothes."

Erico is gone to God and what will we do without him

2009-09-09T21:09:00.001-07:00

After reading many accounts of the twenty four hours following Erico Nadel's death on Sunday sept 6th, I am at once there in Meherabad. (India). I am at once beside him sitting on the veranda asking questions there will never be answers to. At once I smell the warm breeze and see the bright pink and red of the bougainvillea beside the old hall. How often would we make our trips by heather and erico's bungalow to possibly grab their attention, let them know that we wanted to be their favorite children, that we were ready for a treat and a lesson.

We are all sending our love and support to our darling Heather.

Heather and Erico in 1974

I know he has been liberated into all that blissful eternity. But I am missing him, as I usually do a half a world away, but now with the sadness that bears down into my heart and reminds me that this path has pain as well as joy.

Here is the article from the times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/pune/US-citizen-injured-during-robbery-dies/articleshow/4979733.cms

A Prayer

2009-08-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

Heather and Erico, stay with us.

If for our sakes, hang on to this dear blessed life you have had so far

People all over the world are devastated to have you both in such pain and suffering.

You are the "parents" of so many of us little chicks and we want to keep holding your hands.

I am listening to Bach, the biggest gift of love Erico gave me and trying to keep him so close.

I am remembering the promise of being in your family next lifetime, you loved me most when I was younger, much cuter then.

I am thinking of you both and Mo

And.....am thinking of the way your stories and lives have dazzled us all.

We love you both, you are a real LOVE TEAM for our sweet Lord!!!

I want to be special....

2009-08-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

How come my friend Lydia had such an easy time finding someone who essentially looks exactly like me? I thought I was special, but alas I am a generic cookie cutter version of some NYC girl...boring!

Collecting just the right things...with Dad and Lela

2009-07-28T19:26:00.001-07:00

Today was a savaging/sourcing day with Dad and Lela. The only way a house is going to be built "like father, like daughter," on the top of chicken hill is if we can find all of the perfect ingredients to make this the perfect DREAM HOUSE!

Dad and I used my handy handicap car thingy (I will get a photo of that up soon, it is worth seeing) to park real close to everything today. This being the first time he has ever used it, and the second time Lela has.

Then we sought out places with tons of junk (like Dora the Explorer coloring book mountain among building supplies) and places with the prodigal tub (just like at Mom and Dad's)

and three of these four amazing doors.

On the checklist: three awesome interior doors....check! That is where we met our new friend Scott, who is gonna hunt around to find stuff to sell us!
I will keep blogging about the house building process and with a lot more photos once foot is all the way better. I hobbled today and it nearly killed me.

More awesome "junk" to clean up and shine coming your blogging way.

The Big Commitment

2009-07-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

I am three weeks away from closing on this piece of land..........

It may not look like much to you, but it is the sight of my very own dream house. This blog will, for the next segment of my life help chronicle the adventures of building a house with my Daddy while I try to remain calm and make an amazing addition to this historic neighborhood of Chicken Hill (see photo below)

I am so happy and excited and scared and and and...............................

The Silver Slugger

2009-07-07T18:01:00.000-07:00

Oh me, Oh my, the 48 hour film project was a riotous and exhausting event. Here is out completed film, which one four awards, who knows which four. All I know is that with a couple hours left to go Michael Libramento, Ami Worthen and I made the soundtrack happen....amazing!!!

if you don't already know, the muppet snippits from my last blog entry are from filming out takes of the same project, we had way too many ideas.

Take that 48 hour film project

2009-07-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Prognosis

2009-06-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

Many long days and nights have passed me by with this strange broken bone. Last Tuesday I learned that my beloved little bone had not healed at all over the past month. This news depressed me................................... and then strengthened my resolve.

It may not seem like such a big deal (a broken bone in your foot), but for this very tough albino blindo, having a broken foot has strangely been the most debilitating thing I have ever had to focus on, head on, and in a weird way it has been forcing me to deal with other strange hang-ups that come from a lifetime of stubborn independence.

So, I have been stuck in my tower, trying to force myself not to hobble around, booking flights to far off places, writing songs obsessively in 12/8, making movies, watching Hugh Laurie in everything he has ever done, getting use to the idea of myself as a solo musician/performer, drinking comfry tea and feeling like I am letting everyone down.

Here is Feist et all doing something cool.........

Every summer...why, oh why?

2009-06-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

I guess I like the pain of being a part of this crew. Let's make food for lots of kids, in the summer heat of coastal South Carolina, under a tent, and not sleep enough!!

Get back to work!!!! I might look angelic, but I can assure you, that is far from the truth.

I haven't had this much fun since I broke my foot

2009-06-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

Recently my fun times are happening every few weeks.

This first fun with my two darlings Lucy and Linnea, making a leg bouquet on Alex's couch.
A few weeks later in the hospital with a broken foot and slashed tendons. You may be able to tell I had been having a lot of fun before this happened, well I guess I was having fun in the ER too.
Then, a few weeks after that: after being house ridden and disliking it immensely I was at the funnest house show of all time. This is not my hat.

This lawn music was only the beginning of the fun!!!

Lovely photos and words of/about FOX TEETH!

2009-06-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Oh Lydia, how do you get it all done?

check out lydiasee.com for an inspired review of our last show!

Fox Teeth begins!

2009-06-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Our darling lydia See took this photo, before we even had the thought we might need promo for our awesome band: Fox Teeth.

The music is magical, and I feel very lucky to get to play the songs that come from the inner life of Joti Marra.

Here is a song from our debut at the Grey Eagle opening for Floating Action (an amazing band). And there in the corner is darling Tyler Ramsey

A good review helps my broken foot blues

2009-05-31T18:46:00.001-07:00

This review came to may attention today and it made me feel so happy!! It is a very good thing, when someone who has never met you can hear why you might want to make music.

Thank you Wildy's World!

Broken Foot

2009-05-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

My friend Manny and I use to have this little skit/joke where I would pretend to be a baby deer. He would ask me how my leg was doing and I would hobble around as he helped me, reminding me that I am too small to try and jump over such large fallen trees and the like. Well, folks, I have gone ahead and done it.

At my darling friend Rebeccah Mark's birthday party last Friday night, after many grand rock and roll adventures I, inspired by the music, got up on a chair and jumped off of it. Now, for those of you who don't know my dancing style, I love props and chairs and anything I can get up on and then jump off of. I pointed this out so that you would not think that this was a new feat of strength for me. Well, I jumped off the chair and..........broke my foot? "Well, that can't be right," you say. Honestly, I am still in denial a few days later. Apparently, the chair moved a little and when I landed I landed funny, similar to the baby deer's fate.

Thank goodness alive, my darling friend Lydia was sober and smart enough to take me to the ER at 2:30 on the morning. Lydia even got my pain meds (3:30am), and then we went to waffle house (4:00am), she carried me up my stairs and then helped me go to sleep(5am), all on her BIRTHDAY!

Here is an x-ray that shows essentially the same break, just on the right instead of left foot:

I couldn't get my x rays onto the computer, but maybe the specialist can help me with that next week.

Things that suck about having a broken foot:

No walking

bathing is tricky

you have to wear a boot that is bigger than your torso

no dancing

big people have to carry you (this actually is not all that bad)

you become Rapunzel in your own house (thank god I have been growing my hair out)

you have no choice but to ask people for help

there are a lot more, but I gotta stop whining.

Here is a little Thomas Function (the music I was happily dancing to in Rebeccah's basement before the stinkin' foot break.) Love you guys!!

I can't see much, but I spotted this today

2009-05-20T22:14:00.001-07:00

On the way back to Minx (my workplace and downtown home away from home) from the post office, I spotted this abandoned box of crayons. It was in the middle of the crosswalk and I was excited to have actually seen it. I kept traffic at bay, while I took a photo.

Reunion and NMA Gala

2009-05-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

I thought that during my ten year high school reunion I should at one point be flanked by a dude who studies martian rocks and a NY A.D.A while holding onto a small plate and looking too young to drink.

Wish you all had been at the NMA Gala Fundraiser at the Rainbow Room. It was amazing and my ears popped in the elevator!
Afterwards I guess this stuff happened.....Bellinis are delicious and make things funnier.

TEN YEAR REUNION!

2009-05-11T17:45:00.001-07:00

Hello world! Though it is not so rare to find yourself ten years past your high school graduation, but man does it feel special. It mostly feels special because I actually LOVED high school and am in very close touch with my high school friends, so a reunion has the potential to be more than a drunken parade. We shared with each other and hugged each other, drank and made the same jokes we always make, but we also had a nice Quaker meeting on ye ol' south lawn and "checked in" about families and lives. It was truly a wonderful weekend and incredibly funny, realizing that watching your dearest friends become adults also gives you insight into their idiosyncrasies. Thank the Lord above for the legend of the class of 1999 and our guardian angel Carter Waghorne who passed away our junior year of Maningicocul Meningitis. He is still so close to all of us and has an amazing power to bring us together.

...Just the wheel business

2009-05-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

"You wanna get you some rims

I'm gonna tell you where to go

Rent 'n roll"

Michael Libramento led me to this wonderland.

http://www.rnrwheels.com/

Aria's Birthday followed by Found Magazine fun

2009-04-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

My darling sister/best kid friend/mini me turned seven today! I know that the Indian Princess in this photo does not "look" like me, but you have no idea. We were cut from the same cloth. Seven is a big deal and she is gonna wow us all!

....and then some amazing lady gave me and my friend Raina comp tickets to Found Magazine tour thing. So great...wish I had talked to Davy about shooting guns in the morning, oh well, next time.

How does everyone know the words to Mason Jennings' songs?

2009-04-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

The summer before my senior year in college I lived in Vermont with my best friend/wife. Linnea and I would drive to Shrewsbury's town lake and loudly sing-a-long to Mason Jennings: "Oh my heart is a thoroughbred, I can't sleep in my bed..." "I miss the ocean, when I fall asleep, man its gonna break me heart...." Obviously I know all the words, I haven't listened to those songs in years, but they stay with me, reminding me of an incredibly lazy and lovely summer.

Old house, mouse traps, town tea time, daily swims, bathtub, bed on the porch, lupin flowers, tiny kids, puppet shows, mayonnaise............

I love Linnea so much and tonight as I tried to resist singing along, I thought about my best friend and how we got "married" in Vermont that summer. My brother read the lyrics to "islands in a stream" while we walked down the aisle. Some people reading this will remember that strange ceremony and the sheer ridiculousness of it.

Thank you for spreading the rumor that I married a woman, it is a funny one to explain.

My Brand New Website

2009-04-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

In this technological overdrive world I often don't know what I really want something to look like,or how to get feelings from the screen to the heart.

I have finished designing my new website with a very talented friend: Chad Pry, and am thankful to have something on this crazy big Internet that makes me proud (besides my actual music, of course).

Check it: www.angiwest.com

Some incriminating photo booth photos from Hatchfest

2009-04-20T17:56:00.001-07:00

check out more at www.brianwagnerphotography.com, such amazing stuff!!

The beginning of my trying to explain why I loved Hatchfest

2009-04-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

One of many favorite moments was watching this short film by one of my new favorite people: Talmage Cooley.

Pol Pot's Birthday

In the next few days I will try to put up as much as I can from my own invaluable experience of Hatchfest.

COBRA HORSE!

2009-04-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was living in India. My friend Molly Damon and I had many hilarious and well timed inside jokes, but the one that has seemed to hold its own true legacy is "Cobra Horse."

Molly and I were having a drawing contest. Meaning, you basically draw whatever you know how to draw, then pass it to the other person to laugh at, or guess what it could possibly be. Molly drew a picture of a horse, but when she handed it to me, I could swear it was a cobra. And in that moment, Cobra Horse was born.

A year later I was in the studio recording my first album. molly was in town to help me and sing some amazing backup. We occasionally would mention Cobra Horse, and then laugh hysterically, while men like Jeremy Boger and Joshua Carpenter rolled their eyes. But you know what? They found the real home for this inside joke.

Presenting the band Cobra Horse: farcical yet unwittingly serious.

I actually love their music for its awesome pop sensibility and terrible lyrics. I have been warned that they might give me unsolicited songwriting credits, which I will not accept. Thanks, but no thanks.

This show was inspired and fun.

And they have damn good t-shirts!!

Working aka that thing I go and do sometimes

2009-04-08T21:15:00.001-07:00

Tonight was a special late night working session.

(yo, wait, you might not know what I do for a job. Uh well, I keep the books for two awesome stores, I sometimes help buy things to then sell, I do a number of other things to keep business as usual, I write for another blog www.minxboutique.wordpress.com, and I love on some fashion, oh and I buy boots for myself.)

First, we got in some beach bags from Cheap Monday

Then, on the way home I fell into an unmarked hole made by the city in their attempt to fix a leaky water main.

Can I sue the city and get enough money to make my next album?

2009 Southeast Gathering

2009-04-05T21:25:00.001-07:00

Ever since the awkward age of twelve years old, I have been going to a strange and wonderful place in Tacoa, GA. Camp Mikell has been host to the Southeast Gathering since the early eighties. This is an event that celebrates the community of those of us who follow, love and/or revere Meher Baba. If you don't know who Meher Baba is that is another story, another blog, another day. Hyper link yourself here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meher_Baba, to find out more.

For years I spent my energy in the early spring planning programs for the group of teenagers that would inevitably force me to lose my voice (think spiritual camp counselor). But then I grew tired, so tired, of doing that and wanted to just enjoy the North Georgia woods, the sunshine and the company. Also, there is a bit of a generation gap in the Meher Baba community. I use to have up to forty teens in my charge and this year there were three, so there you go.

I thought I would put up a few videos that show some of the fun and sweetness and silliness of the Southeast Gathering.

I wish this bloggy sort of format had the capacity to show what a weekend like this can be, but it doesn't.

It is around midnight

2009-03-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

The excruciating pain of getting better at my instrument is only worsened by a fun game I like to play called: watching piano geniuses on the youtube. This game begins around midnight when I have given up the drill tallying, guide tones, toggling and the crazy jazzy tunes I am suppose to learn - Yo Teacher Tom, I gave you copies of my music for a reason, I don't know how to play this stuff!

Honestly, I am so obsessed with amazing pianists I had to share a few moments, a few unarguably brilliant moments, that inspire me to learn whatever the hell anyone will teach me.

And on the very last note, I got another review today, first I did not like it, and then I did mostly because it says I am "somethin' different" and I find that funny on many levels.

http://www.boldlife.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A9784

Enjoy!

The Garden in Question

2009-03-24T11:42:00.001-07:00

I have garden dreams, and for the first time in a long time I have the dirt, space, and lifestyle for a garden. BUT....said space is covered in CRAB GRASS.

This stuff is so terrible I would have spend a ton of energy trying to keep my sweet little plants from being choked. I am considering other planting options and feeling a little lustful over the perfect vegetable garden.

The best decision I have come up with is to see how extensive I can be with a container garden, here are some photos that inspired me.

Lanvin Love

2009-03-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

All ya'll who read the New Yorker may have a new found love for the doughy genius of Alber Ebaz, but I admit that his profile only deepened my love and appreciation for his sweet countenance. I have been following Lanvin's beautiful clothes with sideways-head since I fell in love with his Spring 2008 show, the flowy vibrant dresses made every fashion magazine and the knockoffs tried to make butterflies of every girl in every town. His clothing is so technically inspiring, here are just a few of his ensembles from many fall and spring shows, including one pair of shoes that I keep seeing and dreaming about.

My computer is at the doctor, the computer doctor, not the human doctor

2009-03-16T14:48:00.001-07:00

So excited that my mac is still under warranty, but they really want to dispute the little bottom latch being under warranty.

Charlotte Street Computers is kind of like the E.R. and the lawyer for computers, especially our beloved Macs!

There are gonna be some really interesting posts when I am reunited with my sweet silvery friend, until then check out:

www.minxboutique.wordpress.com

My blog is a place where I can unleash my world of whimsy on the internet

2009-03-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

OH BANJI!!!

Right here in these very photos we have the new love of my life. I have never received a gift given with so much love, thoughtfulness, and inspiration in all my life. For my birthday, my dear ones Joti, Tyler and Rebeccah gave me this very special Banjo...and now I am learning how to play it. Be patient with me world, I am loving and learning a new instrument at 28!!!

In case you were wondering, that pony is my dear friend, Misty, made by Joti Marra. If you want one you better befriend her or go here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5091744

Then I decided to add more photos from my big ol' release party, that happened ages ago (a whole month), because there were so many good ones!! And, you know, Ruslan Tumash took all of these sweet photos

Isn't Evan so very coy?

I love this photo of Michael and really wanted to share it, cuz he is one of my most favorite people in this whole world!

Doesn't it look like Jon is in love with microphone?

Thank you and Good Night

Some people will judge me

2009-03-02T16:53:00.001-08:00

I can understand why some people might not LOVE Ozomatli, but I love them and this song, maybe is a bit too poppy for some, but it really makes me happy

so here you are:

Lent: give up giving up

2009-02-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

forty days is such an important spiritual number, which makes me feel like Lent is actually something that is mystical in Christianity. And this year, Ash Wednesday fell on Meher Baba's birthday. Not that I think that means anything.
Happy 115th birthday to Meher Baba

Oh Meher Prukesh (the narrator) so sweet!!

So here we go Lent!! I am not giving up pushups, French and most importantly Banji!!!!!

Brozone Layer

2009-02-21T23:02:00.000-08:00

We all know that I love Fry and Laurie, in whatever context.

I am so happy to share this very funny sketch, knowing full well, that it is funnier when I have been in Dude land or the brozone for a good long time.

Wasn't Planning on Having a Big Cry Today

2009-02-17T17:22:00.001-08:00

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

PORCH HOLE IS GONE!!!

2009-02-14T16:44:00.001-08:00

The Best Show

2009-02-14T16:02:00.001-08:00

I released my album. I's and mine's aside, Jon and Michael (and Knorr!!) put themselves into making this project truly shine, and then had the humility to step back and let me accept the applause. Here are some images from a few different amazing photographers: Russ Tumash, Lydia See, Ada Stephens, Sandlin Gaither, and I might have taken one or two.

Starts with the new disc!

Then we get ready for the big show.

Then we pose for pictures in front of the Grey Eagle, because we are all so good looking.

Then we just give it around 1,000%

Then Badger watches
Look at my brother concentrating

Notice how the party has started!!!

There are so many more photos where those came from, if you wanna see em

Also, my album is purchase able at this place http://cdbaby.com/cd/angiwest2

10 years ago

2009-02-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

Linnea (my best friend and high school roommate) and I tore the pages out of Life magazine and taped them on our dorm room wall. They were pages from a photo journalistic piece on Albinism called "redefining Beauty."

I guess this might have been the beginning of a journey towards unveiling my own beauty. I fight an inner fight against albinism every day, but sometimes it makes me smile. Watching this video made me smile.

Laurie and Fry

2009-02-08T16:52:00.000-08:00

exclamation = ex-claymation

2009-02-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

The West Wing is educational

2009-02-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

It is late at night, I watched a really good episode of The West Wing, no more porch hole (its been repaired by my awesome Dad), and I am trying to figure out ways of getting my music to more people and being an active participant in that process...........

All of that in my head and I realize that I have been learning something invaluable from my favorite TV show: The West Wing.

We all need advisers.

I am so lucky I have people around me to help empower my own ideas. Now, useless arrogant advise is just silly, but when you have close friends who understand your personal trials and triumphs, and you ask them earnestly to listen and think with you, you can get a much more informed answer to any question. And yes, this is the main lesson I have learned from the west wing, course I could also learn it from the fact that the real President needs a whole bunch of loyal, smart people around, but, no, I learned it from a fictional show in which Martin Sheen is a terrific president.

Kate Bush has caught me by surprise.....again!!!

2009-01-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

I ask you, why? why is this so good?

Just because I want a hedgehog for a pet doesn't mean I don't love Badgers!

2009-01-27T20:07:00.001-08:00

The perfect dress

2009-01-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes after jamming for hours you might be sitting up, reading Elle magazine cover to cover.

And sometimes, while doing that you come across the perfect dress.

Now the perfect dress, doesn't mean it is perfect for everyone, though I could excitedly dress a number of my friends in this one.

The perfect dress, is the perfect dress for you. It has taken me this long to figure out what that means, but now I know and I will show you all!!

The delightful Diane Von Furstenberg designed this one for her spring 2009 ready-to wear. And I am ready to wear it!!

A day that carried its weight

2009-01-21T01:33:00.000-08:00

In one day,

I witnessed the inauguration of a President that seems to be as close as a friend.

stood in one of those really long lines at the post office and thought about the whole, government monitored private business monopoly type model

walked in the very cold, snowy air

typed numbers into a computer

re-listened to Obama's inaugural speech

said prayers that had gone unspoken for a while

memorialized an old friend who has passed on

touched a very pregnant belly and got a kiss from my God son

ate Indian food, and felt a heartache to be back in India that I haven't felt in while

went to a rock show

got in a a van with rockin' boys

sang "Buttercup"

got home really late

remembered that we have this fabulous new president whose family has just moved into the White House

wrote this blog

signed off

good night, and now good day

"Is B major the same as B flat?"

2009-01-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

Sometimes people ask me questions like the one that is the title of this blog and I have to remember that not everyone knows that B major is mostly terrible and B flat major is generally wonderful.

And not everyone knows that the Huffington Post is killing me with the stupid Sarah Palin headline, trying to make some sort of comparison between her and Caroline Kennedy. This is B major and B flat major! The difference is in the number of accidentals. One is by far easier to read.

OK, now I will hop down from my soapbox and share the latest from my non-stop nerdy wagon (thank you Matt for such an appropriate term, wish I could footnote on a blog). I am obsessed with The West Wing!!

I thought that Jon Reid suggested I watch it, but then he defensively denied that claim during band practice on Monday, leading me to believe that this show is fundamentally uncool and meant for people my parent's age.

But let the world know: I DO NOT CARE!

I might have looked uncool when I admitted to loving Beyonce's "single ladies" video, or my affection for the show Gossip Girl (though I do agree it is getting a bit stale). I might have looked uncool when I agreed to audition for American Idol, or got a perm during college. I might have seemed nerdy when I began to give dissertation to anyone who would listen on the botany of the local forests. Screw all ya'll. I love West Wing, and yes, I just researched law schools on the Internet.

And now that I am a new fan of the West Wing, I totally get that the character Josh Lyman was based off of Rahm Emanuel. Look how intense he is......and true he was studying to be a ballet dancer. So, there might be some awesome people on the non-stop nerdy wagon.

'09 doesn't sound as important as '69

2008-12-31T17:40:00.000-08:00

So, I am looking back, mostly because I feel like my memory is getting tired and I have to reread emails and my own blog to remember what happened to me, or how I felt about it

This past year I:

gained and lost an antagonist

got a little bit more confident

struggled with being one woman in a sea of male musicians

threw parties I was proud of, but they were never enough

played shows for a few people

played shows for a slew of people

doubted my talent and then had a good laugh at that one

made some of the best friends I have ever made

became radio obsessed

went to some of my most favorite rock shows: ice cream!!

adopted slogans like: "who put this shit on?" and "you don't know what you think about, this?!"

watched my childhood friends get married off to handsome fellows

learned that making an album can be really fun and full of wizards

committed to Cheetah Button

made a full length album, when I meant to make an EP

started a job that feels integral in its challenges

Suffered at the hands of heartache

loved my family more and more

texted out

had my own kind of owl party

tried to dress more like my brother

felt patriotic for the first time in my life

disappointed myself

praised myself

went swimming in cold cold water

moved into my house on the hill

burnt a hole through the porch

tried to party like a rock star

decided to admit to more of my shortcomings

Of course there are so many other things that happened, and if I was patient enough I could really go through and make note of them all, but I am not patient.

And here to send us with good tidings into the next year is my spirit animal:

BADGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Shame on me! my blogs are few and far between.....

2008-12-27T20:49:00.000-08:00

.....but not for long folks. I just get really docile and lackluster around the holidays. I keep my PJs on all day and read books I have saved up for this very time. I eat tons of snacks like, mom's homemade fig newtons, and feel very uninterested in being social. I only hang out with my family and force them to only hang out with me. I also have been known to have limited text message conversations with my dearest friends.

But that all changes come January, every year I get so fired up from being so lazy that I combust and, be warned, I will start calling you and wondering what you might be up to: would you like to take a walk, write a song, have a party, play scrabble....with me?

So to recap on the season of holiday cheer I have some videos to show you .

First we have a very special Tyler Ramsey moment at the grey eagle:

Next we have a Christmas moment at Granny Ruth's house, where my brother demonstrates his strength:

- Notice that Seth is holding on to his little sweater friend that I made him throughout the whole fiasco...he named him "Joe"

Then we have the boring, but cute to me Katie Bell curled up on the couch:

And for the grand finale William and I show off our special Christmas clothes from Uncle Jimmy, notice the colorful sweater I am wearing and the camo shirt Will is sporting in the up coming two videos

Putting on the Regency

2008-12-17T22:19:00.000-08:00

Oh the plight of the ever-over-thinking. Yo, why can't I sleep? Well, the first reason is that I finished a crucial step in album production today: mastering. It really did some magic, and things are sounding very very good, but that means I have to keep moving forward to the date of real completion, when one thousand shrink-wrapped duplicates arrive at my front door.....yikes!! Oh, and I forgot to call Toby before I left Chapel Hill this evening...damn it all. The only thing that has seemed to help in my freak out is watching bits of "Wooster and Jeeves." Thank the Lord above for Fry and Laurie, honestly the best show ever, well, maybe now I will have to reconsider that superlative due to my recent discovery: I love Gossip Girl.

Here you are... a little bit of good ol' Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves.

Badger Party

2008-12-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

Sweater friend obsession

2008-12-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

Winter lends itself to obsessively stitching. Thanks Joti for teaching me how to make my own friends who are a little bit silly and keep me entertained while I feed the fire at my house under a gray sky.

When you are small, a tiny kitchen garden can feel like a BIG forest.

Just a little rest
She will never find me here in this big coat...

Look who is hiding on the top of the fridge...

Watch out! If I don't see you there, I might sit on you when I go to write this blog entry.

Just a little cashmere friend relaxing on the couch listening to "talk of the nation." What? you think Illinoise is the most courrput state too?
Sweater worm needs a drink of water like anybody else

Hey everyone, don't worry I haven't completely lost my mind.

Pink Macaroni and Cheese?

2008-12-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

I changed my mind

2008-11-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

I love "Single Ladies." I think the song is awesome and now want to sing it out loud all the time. Thank you again Beyonce, you are Irreplaceable.

Thanksgiving, Dream Announcement, and Diligent snacking

2008-11-28T22:32:00.000-08:00

Lets not start at the Beginning:

Will watches Katie help clean up after the best Thanksgiving ever.

Bert watches me watch Bert and Benny help clean up after the best Thanksgiving ever.

And before all that, we have our diligent snacking:

Rebeccah and Michael work very hard to get to a tastey Oyster snack

I, on the other hand, do not work hard and allow my Daddy to do the shucking for me, "Just say yo!"

And a dream announcement:

God damn a camera who can't capture the sunset through my glass

bangles.

Snow came down, covered the ground, and I listened to David Byrne and Brian Eno

2008-11-21T07:00:00.001-08:00

This is pretty cool and pretty lame

2008-11-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

My old friend Dave is in this ridiculous guns and roses cover band, Mr Brownstone, and they played on Letterman. Kind of amazing, but also kind of sad. If you were wondering, he is Izzzy. I felt more proud when Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds were on Conan, because they were in a real band, called Band of Horses, not a joke band. But jokes are pretty cool

stuck to the Huffington Post

2008-11-18T19:52:00.000-08:00

I couldn't put anything on my blog, because I felt like the Huffington Post was covering any and all things I, or anyone else, might find interesting. But then I started watching Kate Bush videos on youtube, then moved onto Beyonce....y'all this stuff is so good I can't quite believe it.

some notes: Ermine? wow!!
OK, how is her voice and that ukulele amplified?
concertina guy!!!!!!!!
this video is so good!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, now for some Beyonce...........

This song is terrible, but dear lord, don't you wish you could dance like that, in that leotard!!!!!!

Life is good as I hold my breath to find out who is gonna be secretary of state!!!!!

The mistakes we make

2008-11-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

Last week, I was cleaning the ash out of my wood stove. I was pretty sure that the ash was cold and could not feel any live embers. I put the ash into a plastic bag and put it out on the porch, hoping to distribute the ashes around some nice trees the following day. The next morning I was welcomed by an enormous hole. All night long, hot ash burnt through two 2by4s. I immediately felt the most extreme embarrassment I have ever known. I had done something so stupid that I decided that I should tell the Internet about it in order to pay penance. No, I did not burn down the house, though my momma had to go through that possiblity outloud when I spoke with her, "Oh Lordy, dear lord above, goodness gracious, oh Angi!" I begged her to tell me she might have once done something so stupid and she tried to console me, but alas, I am the person that nearly burnt down the house. Now here are the pictures to prove that I am not that sharp.

Obama won North Carolina

2008-11-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Now with Obama winning North Carolina and even my backwoods home of Jackson County, we have a sweep:

Beverly Perdue (D) - the state's first female governor

Kay Hagan (D) - unseated the GOP's Elizabeth Dole

Holla back y'all

and this just in......I think my Uncle Jerry was elected to the Swain County school board. Loving North Carolina right now.

All this cuz people like my Granny Ruth voted Democrat!!!!

YES WE CAN

2008-11-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

Final Countdown

2008-11-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

After looking at photos of the Obama's being sweet to each other and having a little cry, I started to get a terrible stomach ache. This stomach ache was my first sign that I was truly nervous about the election results. I watched this video this morning and it helped a little, so maybe if you are feeling it this video might help you.

Lakme Fashion Week - means Indian fashion week

2008-11-02T11:58:00.000-08:00

The reason I love these pieces from Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai is because they feel like things I actually wear when living in India. The rich fabrics and contrasts, the layering and irreverence for western sensibilities.

Oh India!!! I miss you.

Guess who voted for Obama.......

2008-11-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

..........my Southern Baptist Republican Granny. Hooray Granny, you are the coolest, and you listened to my points, now lets have some biscuits and pinto beans

Neil Young

2008-10-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

When I was little it took a long time to get into town, so there was a lot of time to listen to tapes in the car. I monopolized the tape player, and I think my brother might finally be happy about that. He let me be the one with the strong opinions. I was fanatical about it. When I was riding in the truck with Daddy, we listened to Ella Fitzgerald, KD Lang, or Neil Young. When I rode to school or town in the car with Mom, I put on Neil Young, this tape of songs about Meher Baba or the soundtrack to Aladdin.

There was a lot of other music that I was crazy about, but these stick out among the rest.

Neil Young got more airplay than anyone else in our car and I sang along loud and clear - weird that my family never voiced an annoyance with this.

Last night at dinner with some friends I was just feeling the Neil Young love brand new, and was trying to remember the song I wanted to sing in the talent show at six years old. It was completely inappropriate, but my mom humored the idea for a while before convincing me to sing something else. Figuring out which song it was will take a little bit more digging, but I did have a very intense obsession with the song "After the Gold rush" as well as the entire album and I thought I would share these versions of the song that are both really amazing.

Moss! and TV on the Radio

2008-10-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

wanna grow some moss?

- find some

- scoop it up, no need to dig, it doesn't have roots

- squish it into the pot you wanna plant it in, hopefully the soil is acidic

- just really squish it down

- mist it as often as you can

Next, we move to TV on the Radio which I heard and kind of saw on Sunday night in Knoxville. It was awesome!!!!!!!

My favorite band member, who gets points for hustle, versatility, wackiness and commitment was "saxophone guy." He is otherwise known by his actual name: Martin Perna of the band Antibalas. At one point my friend Isaac pointed out that he had made his way to the balcony, "Look, saxophone guy is in the balcony!!"

Here is a video of TV on the Radio to demonstrate how good they are.