The Nerve

Short takes (at least I think they will be):

* Drove over 1,000 miles last weekend just for soccer, and at least double that in the last 17 days of July working on a feature story/journal of the 13 matches I saw during that time.

* Almost got into a skirmish with UK tabloid "reporters"; seems they paid off a star player for exclusive access, even though they were conducting the interview in a public setting.

* My parents went to Nags Head to the beach house my sister, husband and nephew are renting for the week.

* I'm watering plants for my mom in her absence. She should hope they're still alive when she returns.

* it's still too darn hot--another 100 degree day today.

* It's what I'll need to go after a new job. I'm seeing a few possibilities.

* What I lack about medical stuff, as I'm pursuing a story about sports hernias and how many are going to a specific doctor in Germany for this. I nterviewed someone who had this surgery last night, and today, continuing doing the research is making me a bit queasy.

*  If you're in Vancouver, (not sure if there's a webcast), I'll be on your radio either Saturday, Sunday or both. Their soccer team is in my region this weekend, and I've been asked on for Sunday, though they're also broadcasting Saturday and there's a possibility for me then too.

* If you're not listening to Amos Lee or Over The Rhine, you're missing out. Thanks April.

* Drive-in's still exist. I saw a few over the weekend, even showing current movies. Funny, though, how more places (such as large parks or schools) are showing outdoor movies on the big screen. Something to be said for outdoor movies. Reminds me of a scene with J-Lo in The Wedding Planner. First movie I saw was when I was 6, Star Wars. First in the movie theater for me was Grease.

* Got called babe last night by a woman, as well as The (followed by my last name, which I don't post in the journal, but it's not really a state secret).

* Had a little boy in the bookstore Tuesday compliment my tie-dye t-shirt.

* When people don't realize how hard you work at something just because you love it, and then they find some small flaw in what you do, instead of saying something nice about the effort made.

* I have some really good background material from my travels, at least I think. I'll point you to it when it's ready.

* The players on the team I followed over the weekend were really nice and thanked me for making the long trek, and even met one player's parents--again. Couldn't find the restaurant they recommended, though.

* Monday morning I slept about three hours in the backseat of my car (from around 5-8 a.m.). Thank goodness it was still a bit dark when I went to sleep, and thank goodness it was safe and I had a pillow.

Comments

[Jimmy]

I think a lot of people, as you said, would give most anything to have the kind of pressure he said he felt by performing all the time. I would have thought that with the stories in his music, there would be something more he could have shared in a live performance.

[Jess]

His music was good enough, but I was unimpressed with him as a performer. He spent a lot of time not playing and not sharing anything useful about his music. For example, he hemmed and hawed for a few minutes about what song to play, about being kinda bored, about not liking the pressure of having to perform all the time. I would give my left kidney to have one of those stages to myself for an hour. So his (lack of) stage presence marred my enjoyment of his music a bit.

It may just have been a bad time for him, but I don't feel the need to see him live again.

[Jimmy]

I hope you enjoy the festival this weekend, and I'm curious to hear your review of Amos Lee if you get the chance to see his show.

[Jess]

Amos Lee is playing at my folk festival this weekend. I'll try to check him out at least once.