National Novel Writing Month: 30 days of ignoring housework

While I'm plugging along for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo - see the button on the sidebar to see my progress) and trying to decide if blogging is best left to people much better organized and less lazy than I, you should enjoy this happy Hammock cookie.

Basically, Hammock is the best music to listen to while writing. Not distracting, not irritating, not repetitive nor boring. I'm also appreciating those qualities in Red Sparowes and Mumford & Sons, as well as the always reliable Damien Rice, City & Colour and Common Children (Delicate Fade and The Inbetween Time only... Writing to Skywire is like trying to listen to someone telling you a secret of great significance while you're standing beneath a busy overpass in a crowded city: not impossible but certainly not advised).

Enjoy your cookie. :-)

Stains of Time - Common Children

When the sunshine burns the darkness

Remove the veil that lingers on Your face

The stains of time still mark us

Standing in the aftermath of grace

Standing in the aftermath of grace

Do you want to hear these stories

of love and our mistakes?

Will you show us all Your glory

to soothe and to erase

The stains of time

Do you want to hear these stories

of love and our mistakes?

Will you show us all Your glory

to soothe and to erase...

Tell me me you don't love Common Children. I dare you.

Art and Christian Music - Hammock

Did you catch the post in which I stated that I've been spending too much time on etsy? No? That's all right.

I have several pages of favorites, mostly prints, that I've tried to sit Bryan down and explain my vision for. Mostly, for my trouble, I've gotten, "Uh huh. What's in the cart?" Impatient MAN.

As I was flipping through random searches, I came across this lovely triptych, called "Night Bokeh."

Which is precisely what it is.

However, I caught sight of that and stopped. I could feel everything in me still, falling into place.

Why? Because it reminds me of this:

*whispers* This is Hammock.

Hammock is the project of two of Common Children's former members.

I only discovered Hammock last summer. They've been making music since 2004, and my Common Children broke up in 2002, but I didn't find them until 2009. Is anyone else upset by this math?

Why didn't anyone tell me?

I mention Common Children a lot. I'm aware of it. This is partly because they only made three albums, one of which is severely sentimental to my adolescence and subsequent courtship to the chaheaded man I married, and this is partly because they only made three albums and then broke up -- eight years ago -- so I've developed kind of a rosy hindsight. It happens.

This is a song from their third album; the relationship to the music Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson are making now as Hammock is pretty distinct. It's a lovely song, and I felt strongly that it should have been used for New Moon in the scene when Bella races across Voltura, splashing through the fountain as she searches the crowd for Edward...! But, of course, it wasn't. The music people really should have listened to me.

(Don't worry, JoAnn. None of this is screamy. You might like it.)

This One Goes Out To The One I Love

The Mister actually requested I write a happy post. This isn't difficult, though I was a little disturbed to read through the handful of blogs I've posted and hear how negative and complainy and sarcastic I sound. I'm not really. I'm the person who laughs first in the theater. I'm the person who can't stop smiling when you're telling a story. I'm the person who hugs you when you're having a sucky day. I really am.

So, because he asked so sweetly and because he correctly deduced its need, I hereby dedicate this post to him.

Things that make me happy:

• Tushies. Baby tushies. Little boy tushies. I giggle.
  

• My dad singing any of the obscure songs for which he's renowned. Then promising, "That's a real song, you know." I've been hearing this since I was born; I still love it.
  
  
• My sister vowing she would go to Silversun Pickups with me if she were still visiting when they played in Atlanta, despite the fact that she hates all music I love. How great is she?
  
  
• Bryan's sense of humor.

Exibit A:

Exhibit B:

(His hair kind of makes me happy too. As does Asher's hat.)

Exhibit C:

• You know what else makes me happy? Punk music. Ooh, I especially like when songs I previously enjoyed are covered by punk(ish) bands. I become giddy. It's true.



• And screaming in otherwise nonscreamy music. I grin very very big. Oh, like Common Children. Lord, I miss Common Children.



• And musicians that are as good live as they are in studio. I'm pretty sure that's the entire reason I have such a girl crush on Hayley Williams of Paramore. She's amazing.
  

Yes, I enjoy music. Why do you ask? Maybe it has something to do with my very unimpressive musical ability. You know how when you love something but are no good at it? Yeah, that. I have rhythm; I can read music; I can even play piano; I can carry a tune. I'm am only missing actual talent. So sad.

Enter iTunes and Pandora and my brother. He's my music dealer.

Oh, and one more happy thing...

• My Mom. She's awesome. Of course, she can't buy a break.