Thank goodness for Gmail!

I was able to find an email exchange from a year ago where my sister sent me her Cornerstone Festival packing list.

This year's festival is only a few days away. Here are some things I'll try to bring, courtesy last year's list:

Tent & tarps & stakes & poles -- and means to get stakes into ground?
Sleeping bag & pillow (optional) & aero bed (optional but good!)
Breakfast foods (since expensive on site and easy enough to do at tent) -- granola/cereal bars, juice packets that can stay good despite the heat (i.e. not OJ that needs refrigeration).
Limited food prep stuff - for sandwiches / etc - knife, napkins, bread, peanut butter ought to do
Cooler / ice / water bottles / etc.?
Shower: shoes, container to take there, 2 towels, clothespins (optional)
Clothing: shoes for mud, shoes for dry, socks, hat
Medical: sunscreen, tylenol-type product, aloe (?)
Other: small mirror, flashlight, camera, batteries, ziploc bags to keep stuff dry in bookbag on rainy days, etc.
Bible & notebook
Here's the one we've found to be quite handy over the years -- instead of bringing my clothes and stuff in a suitcase, I bring it in a rubbermaid container. If it rains, your stuff will stay nice and dry. Of course, if it's hot and humid, you're stuff with get hot and humid in there, so that's an issue. But when it rains, it's wonderful!

The Fourth of July is coming. And so is the Fifth.

While Christians, including myself at times, bemoan the devaluing of our sacred holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, the same holds true of secular holidays. Most people probably can't tell you the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. People think both are there to honor vets, but that's not completely true. One is for the living, the other for the dead, which would seem to be a big distinction.

Even the national holiday celebrating freedom has been co-opted. When was the last time you heard someone talk about Independence Day in reference to anything but a Will Smith Movie?

The holiday has a name, so why don't we use it?

You Are Marge Simpson

You're a devoted family member who loves unconditionally. Sometimes, though, you dream about living a wild secret life! You will be remembered for: your good cooking and evading the police Your life philosophy: "You should listen to your heart, and not the voices in your head."

The Simpsons Personality Test

Adolescence: This week's Photo Friday theme. Here's a scan of a 35mm print from a few years back of a crowd surfer.

Even in Nebraska, middle America, immigration continues to be a huge issue. A May Day march saw more than 3,000 people take to the streets. In a town of 50,000, that's a big deal. 

My photo friday entry for famous... these guys are quasi-famous. Punk band MxPx plays on a golf cart.

I got a new camera today! My new Nikon D70s :) 

I feel like a real journalist tonight. For the first time, I was on a panel for a political debate.

Doesn't really mean much, I guess, but can add that to life's list of accomplishments. Of course resume material rarely tells a person's true story.

Survey time... feel free to repost...

1. of all the bands & artists in your collection, which one do you own the most albums by?

Two are neck and neck... U2 -- my favorite band of all time, and the Echoing Green -- my favorite indie band that I've been fortunate enough to enjoy for the last decade, and have even gotten to know them and promote shows and stuff. But there's no question I'm a huge U2 fan.

2. what was the last song you listened to?

U2 - With or Without You just popped up in iTunes

3. what's in your record player right now?

If that means CD player, then the answer would be Family Force 5, a CD I just picked up, but haven't had time to digest yet.

4. what's your favorite instrument?

I have two favorites to play -- drums and piano. There's not an instrument I don't like to listen to. I appreciate well played guitar, bass, cello, violin, turntables, keyboards, banjo, about anything.

5. what's your favorite local band?

Hennepin Ave. Some high school kids who just won a battle of the bands I judged last week.

6. what was the last show you attended?

U2 & Kanye West blowing it up in Omaha just before Christmas.

7. what was the greatest show you've ever been to?

- U2 & Kanye West in Omaha, Dec. '05
- Sixpence None the Richer with Sarah Masen in Minneapolis in '97 or so.
- Over the Rhine at Cornerstone in Illinois a few years ago (2003?), when they had this amazing multi-instrumentalist who produced this huge wall of sound to match the husband and wife duo at the core of the group
- Echoing Green, Five Iron Frenzy November '97 (I think?) my first time seeing EG and Five Iron guys later told me that was one of their best shows ever, and I'd have to agree.
- Other than that, I've seen so many shows, it's hard to even say at this point

8. what's the worst band you've ever seen in concert?

ApologetiX. Fortunately, I only saw a song or two.

9. what band do you love musically, but dislike the member(s) of?

Tough question. There are some bands that I just dig the sound of, but it's hard to get into lyrically. Or some that just seem like jerks, but that's hard.

10. what is the most musically involved you have ever been?

Does being thanked in liner notes for several CDs count? Well, I did play piano on a song that was recorded. I've booked and promoted a music festival. I'm a staff photographer for a music festival. For nearly a decade, I've been an online music critic. I've interviewed bands like P.O.D. and MxPx.

I've also played drums for some church worship stuff.

11. what show are you looking forward to?

Probably Cornerstone -- Violet Burning, Over the Rhine, etc.

12. what is your favorite band shirt?

Probably this old navy blue Sixpence shirt I got at a show (this was before Kiss Me was overplayed on the radio).

13. what musician would you like to hang out with for a day?

Duh, Bono. Who else would I say?

14. what musician would you like to be in love with you for a day?

Hmmm, Bono? That would be brotherly love, though.

15. what was your last musical "phase" before you wizened up?

I never really got into the emo thing, and only liked 2 ska bands. I'm still on the synth / electronica thing, but not like I once was.

16. sabbath or solo ozzy?

Ozzy? A guy who was on the Osbourne's TV show signed my cast when I broke my wrist :)

17. did you know that filling out this survey makes you a music geek?

Of course. I'm a music elitist, didn't you know ;)

18. what was the greatest decade for music?

The '80s maybe? This one hasn't been all bad. I'm not much into '60s or '70s stuff, and while there was some interesting music in the '90s, there was also a lot of dreck.

19. what is your favorite movie soundtrack?

Anything by John Williams

20. what would you be without music?

Not much, I don't think. Music encourages me to be better, ask hard questions, love, listen, and grow. It uplifts my spirit, grounds me, and gives voice to the yearnings of my heart I can't even find the words to express.

Tunnels in Nebraska? Believe it. Well, they're more like bobsled runs, but everywhere you go are huge walls of snow. The good news is, the snow has stopped falling. The bad news is, the mounds of snow haven't met their slushy demise yet. 20 plus inches is a lot, even by midwestern standards. Plows have scraped enough snow of the pavement to make it driveable, but now there are massive mounds of snow everywhere. There are piles four or five feet high lining some streets. Last week it was 60. Let's hope next week it is too, so this stuff will be history.