Musician’s Widow

May is drawing towards a close, and for once I’ll be glad to see it go. It’s been one bizarre month, and I hope that perhaps June will draw in some sanity.

I’ve been in Texas this week, a fact I’ve not been too highly publicizing. We came down to work, and I had a lot of things I had planned to do in conjunction with that. Get together with friends and family, for one. Making a necessary run down to Texas A&M University to handle a few things at the Association of Former Students, etc. for another. Instead, I spent over half of this week in pain and in a drugged stupor.

My toothache from last week? Ended up swelling to look like a huge goose egg on my jawline. A trip to the dentist netted me some Penicillin and prescription pain medication. I wanted to do so much, and yet I literally couldn’t. I hurt too bad from the infection in my tooth (teeth?). I foresee dental work in the not-so-distant future.

I’m happy to say the infection let go a couple days ago, but now I’m left scrambling to make up lost time. So most of my tentative plans have had to be scrapped. Maybe next trip…

Anyway, despite being “sick,” I did manage to put together a set of weekly winners! This week, I’ll actually respond to comments and leave comments with others. Last week, I wasn’t even on my computer at all for a few days, and thus was a very lacking participant. In both weekly winners and as a blogger in general. I took a sick week, I suppose you could say.

But I am back! And here to share my Weekly Winners… go visit Lotus for more Weekly Winners participants. They’re all consistently fabulous, and you’ll not regret the time spent. I promise.

Looking up through the slats on my mom's swing, where I was sitting one afternoon just enjoying being outside for awhile. *

Water meter cover in my parent's yard. *

Abandoned cone in a field.

Bark. I just really liked how the sunlight was only shining on this one area of the trunk of the tree.

My first attempt at a fairly cliche image at this point. But, its still fun to try to create a heart shadow with a ring and a book. (This book was my grandma's book of Robert Frost poetry.)

I applied a cross process effect to this image, which I thought went well with the old time style of the signs.

American Flag

We were driving through a small town today, and we had to pull over to get photos of all the American flags out for Memorial Day weekend. The whole square around the courthouse was filled with flags, about every two feet apart!! It was amazing!

I can't resist fun reflections. This was taken outside of Chuy's Mexican Restaurant in Waco, TX. Fabulous food, followed by a fun reflection photo. (Say that last sentence outloud. LOL! Funny!)

♥ ♥ ♥

All photos taken using a Nikon Coolpix L20.
(except those with * — those taken with my cell phone, HTC Droid Incredible)

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

I feel bad I didn’t update this blog all week… but it was one crazy busy week ending with my laying on the couch with a toothache. :( I’m a mess right now, so I apologize for this entry being only half-way done due to lack of energy.

THE BENEFIT WAS AMAZING!!!  “Come hell or high water… BANDing TOGETHER” was one of the most amazing nights ever, and I hope to work with this group of people again on another benefit. I’m still riding a high from the night, and I can’t thank my fellow volunteers and the artists the participated enough. Over three truck loads of supplies were gathered, and over $4000 raised at the door alone!

I live in one AMAZING city. What can I say? Nashville ROCKS.

Now… photos from my super crazy week:

(For more Weekly Winner Participants, go visit Lotus!)

Monday, we had a quick shower come through downtown Nashville while we set up for the benefit. I thought that ironic, considering we were holding a flood relief benefit.

Billy Dean was one of our acts. He's been SO active in the benefits around down... it was awesome to have him as part of ours.

Lee Roy Parnell was also one of our acts. This photo makes me giddy because... I designed our logo. Tada!

Headliner Joe Diffie was awesome. I can't say how many shows I've seen so far, but this one definite ranks as one of my favorites ever.

Lee Brice did an amazing job!

White Flower

Cold, cold beer and live music. Playing with my cell phone's camera capabilities, I was able to test out its ability to choose focal point.*

Sunset out of my window*

Pale pink rose

♥ ♥ ♥

All photos taken using a Nikon Coolpix L20.
(except those with * — those taken with my cell phone, HTC Droid Incredible)

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

Life is “sort of” getting back to normal. We’ll be feeling the effects of the flood for awhile in many, many ways. But my photoset this week shows “life in general” for me…

Visit Lotus for more Weekly Winners, and more “lives in general.”

This Iris caught my eye from inside, due to how deep of a purple it was. It didn't last long, but for while it was there, it was breathtaking!

Backstage discussions. *

A hallowed stage, the Opry returned to the Ryman Auditorium after the flood. Its one of three locations that will host the Ryman as the Opry House is repaired. *

Ryman Auditorium

Cat Tryptic: I couldn't choose just one photo. They all went together.

Magnolia *

Hey batter, batter... Nashville Sounds vs. Portland Beavers

Baseball diamond at Greer Stadium in Nashville, TN. *

Fireworks turn even the most mature adults into kids again.

♥ ♥ ♥

All photos taken using a Nikon Coolpix L20.
(except those with * — those taken with my cell phone, HTC Droid Incredible)

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

Whenever I look around sites like Facebook or MySpace, I am often struck by the irony that a vast majority of the time, the very first item listed under interests is “Music.” These aren’t just musicians that write this. Its seen just as prevalent on the profiles of music fans. Fans of all types of music.

I think everyone has a soundtrack to their life. Songs that touched a person, or it meant something to them at a key time in their life. I know I do! Songs that will throw me back to a certain place or time. Songs that dragged me through a tough time, or that helped me celebrate a joy.

Then there are those songs that just make you appreciate them for the work of art that they are. Be it killer lyrics, or a solo that makes you take notice — even if you couldn’t find your way through a song with a map and metronome!

A musician's gear is their paintbrush they use to create pieces of art

Music is art. And a musician’s gear is like a painter’s paintbrush, as the guitar or drum or piano paints notes across space to evoke emotions or convey a message. Some pieces of gear have painted masterpieces in pop culture.

When I read the blog today, “Musician’s Hall of Fame future uncertain, instruments damaged in flood,” it was the music lover in me whose heart ached.

Watching friends pull their own personal gear from Soundcheck made the friend and “Musician’s Widow” in me feel sick. It’s not hard to put myself in their shoes, imagining how it would cripple my husband (and me) if his gear had been among the thousands of pieces lost. So when I see photos from friends, or I hear their stories, I will feel physically ill.

But to hear of such wonderful pieces of gear that hold a major place in music history, such as the bass Lightning Chance used for Hank Williams’ final recording sessions, the music fan in me buckles.

Any time I go to the Grand Ole Opry, or I walk through the alley behind the Ryman, I find myself stilled in my soul, to realize what great talents have walked those same steps in the past. And when I watch the video in that blog, I think about the talented hands that cradled those guitars. The way those guitars were possibly hand picked precisely for their tone or feel. They hold a place in music history. And after this flood, they are ruined. (Not to mention the guitars that never had a chance to find their way into the hall of fame, but would undoubtedly been in there in time!)

Sidebar: Don’t EVEN get me started on the Musician’s Hall of Fame being closed to be moved. I didn’t like how it was handled from the beginning, and now I really don’t like it.

We hold tight to our recordings of the songs these priceless pieces of music history made happen, and we are thankful to always have that. The musicians who lost all their gear last weekend will get new gear. Key pieces of their collections could never be replaced, but the music WILL continue to play. History will continue to be made. History will never be forgotten. But for now, we mourn the loss of tangible pieces of history…

A history that so many say they have an interest in… music.

Everyone is volunteering to help flood victims. Distributing water. Donating clothing. Donating money. Helping people rip out things from their flooded homes. Opening homes to strangers in need of a place to stay…

I wanted to find a place to help out, preferably somewhere that would allow me to use my talents.

A friend posted on her Facebook page that she was starting work to plan a benefit concert to raise money to help flood victims. I’d worked with the friend before on fundraisers, and I definitely wanted to help her again.

So last Wednesday, eight of us gathered in a house in Nashville to plan out this benefit concert that my friend had already set far into motion. Dividing up the work, bouncing ideas off one another. Some good ideas. Some not so good ideas. But by the end of the night, we had a solid game plan formed.

Joe Diffie, Lee Roy Parnell, Billy Dean, Lee Brice, Jeremy McComb and Jerrod Niemann are among artists scheduled to perform.

On May 17th, music fans are encouraged to join us at Limelight in downtown Nashville for a night of great music, good times, and a chance to raise money for several great organizations who are working hard to help flood victims.

Our lineup includes performances by:  Rick Huckaby, Glen Templeton, Melanie Martel, Jared Ashley, Chad Warrix, Jeremy McComb, Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Billy Dean, Lee Roy Parnell, Joe Diffie

Doors will open at 5:00 pm, and the music starts at 5:30. A $10 donation will be taken at the door to benefit the Nashville Red Cross. Silent Auction (which includes donated items from the Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, Marriott, area salons, Atlanta Braves, area restaurants, George Strait autographed guitar, and much more) and sale of t-shirts and koozies to benefit Salvation Army, Nashville Humane Association, and Happy Tails Humane.

In addition to the donations and the sale of shirts, etc. we will be taking item donations for all the organizations. The needs of each are as follows:

Nashville Humane Association is asking for:

• Dry Dog Food and Cat Food
• Small Size, Joy or Dawn Dish Liquid
• Kitten Food
• Puppy Food
• Cat Litter and Litter Pans
• Animal Toys
• Food Bowls
• Leashes, Collars
• Carriers/Kennels

Salvation Army is asking guests to bring:

• Cases of Bottled Water
• NEW socks, underwear, and t-shirts
• Hygiene kits
• Supplies for clean-up kits which include: mop, broom, work gloves, mask, sponge, rubber gloves, bleach, all-purpose cleaner, trash bags, and paper towels

Happy Tails is asking guests to bring:

• small blankets for crates
• Pillow Cases
• Towels

As many know, the music community was hit hard by this flood, just as many families. Millions of dollars in gear were lost when Soundcheck, where many musicians store their gear, was among the businesses underwater. The photos and stories coming out of there are heartbreaking, and they personally make my stomach turn. Unfortunately, many of the musicians did not carry insurance on their gear, and are left with  no where to turn.

At this benefit, 5% of all bar sales will benefit musicians affected by the flooding of Soundcheck storage facility.

We encourage everyone to come out and show their support.

To anyone outside of Nashville wishing to support the cause, you may have heard you can text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross. However, perhaps you are like me… I can’t do $10 more on my cell phone bill. It’s a budget thing for me. I know what my bill is going to be, and when it wavers… it throws me off big time. But, I can donate otherwise! (Or perhaps $10 just isn’t in your budget, but you can do $5. Or $10 isn’t as much as you want to donate, and texting 10 times to donate $100 is just a pain.)

We have set up a Post Office box to accept donations for our charties. Pick one of our charities you’d like to support (Nashville Red Cross, Salvation Army, Nashville Humane Association, or Happy Tails Humane) and mail a check in THE CHARITY’S NAME to:

BANDing TOGETHER
P.O. Box 23474
Nashville, TN 37202-3474

I assure you, none of the donated money will go anywhere other than the charity you make your check out to… these will be delivered directly to charity. For any new information as it becomes available, visit our Facebook event page, and please spread the word! It’ll be one AMAZING night.

This week has been surreal.

I have no idea how many people truly know the natural disaster that occurred in Nashville, Tennessee last Sunday. The National Media has been horribly MIA.

Middle Tennessee flooded. Grand Ole Opry had water three feet over its stage. Opryland Hotel will probably be closed for MONTHS as the bottom floor had over 10 feet of water inside. The Symphony Center lost two Steinway Grand Pianos and their Organ was badly damaged. The Cumberland River made it up to 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville, cresting at close to 52 feet. Flood stage is 40 feet. 2,000 homes were damaged, and the footage is spookily similar to images that were shown post-Katrina in New Orleans. Damage totals are estimated at $1.5 Billion dollars, and that total is climbing. The warehouse in which many, many musicians stored their gear — instruments, sets, speakers, amps, monitor boards, video boards — got flooded. Lost gear is estimated to go into the millions there alone. I have heard it said in various places, that this may very well be (monetarily) one of the US’s worst natural disasters in history.

In the days since, I have seen an outpouring of love within the community. I have said it multiple times in this blog alone — this city has humbled me countless times in the last week. I now know why Tennessee is called the Volunteer State. People helping people. Looting has been practically none-existent. Instead, its been an outbreak of volunteering. Neighbors who were once strangers, and now dear friends. The biggest story of this flood is that camaraderie that has appeared out of nowhere.

So for this Weekly Winners,  I bring to you photos of the flood, with a few extras thrown in here. I’ve broken my self-imposed photo limit for this entry.

Now on to my photos… for more Weekly Winners, please visit Lotus. And give them all some love. And here’s hope for returning to some sort of normality here this week.

At my house, we just got rain last Sunday. I took this photo mid-afternoon in my front yard. We were thankful, so thankful, to be spared. But we watched in shock as the water continues to rise in Nashville. *

The Music City Star, which is a key part of Nashville's transit system, partly covered in water. You can see in the foreground the Railroad Crossing signs covered up the the sign in water.

Water rationing is having to happen, as the water treatment plant ended up submerged. Some gas stations were also underwater, and there was a brief time in which some stations were out of gas... because trucks could not get in to deliver fuel to stations.

Nashville Skyline... the water in the forefront should not go that far out. LP Field, where the Tennessee Titans play, looked more like a soup bowl... just like the parking lots around it. (Field is not in the photo, but it would be not far to the right outside of frame.)

The TA just off the Interstate. Yes, that's a car in the parking lot submerged in water.

These trucks weren't going anywhere any time soon... They were parked in the TA parking lot. Notice the Salvation Army building also under water to the left.

The Cumberland River... far out of its banks.

We Sink or Swim Together -- this photo is now considered one of my most interesting on Flickr. Luckily, we've opted to all swim together. (The please stop pumping referred to the businesses that were pumping water out of their basements... and right into other's basements! Oops!)

Joe's Crab Shack -- Yes, those are windows. The weird thing, at this point, the building STILL HAD POWER! A transformer didn't blow and that area of downtown lose power for another day!

As if to bring hope, many fresh flowers began to bloom.

Batman building... lit! This week, this building lost power and went dark for the first time since it was built in the '90s. It was good to see it lit again! *

Disaster Kleenup truck parked in front of our Symphony Center... the perfect way to close this Weekly Winners as we move on to a new week. *

♥ ♥ ♥

All photos (except those with * — those taken with my cell phone) taken using a Nikon Coolpix L20.

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL MOM’S!!!

I am excited to be helping plan a benefit concert to be held in Nashville on May 17th. But I wanted to post that anyone wishing to help outside of Nashville can donate to our benefit. Pick one of our charities you’d like to support (Nashville Red Cross, Salvation Army, Nashville Humane Society, or Happy Tails Humane) and mail a check made out to THE CHARITY’S NAME to:

BANDing TOGETHER
P.O. Box 23474
Nashville, TN 37202-3474