Just can't get enough...

I jut found this... Someone uploaded the full song of True Companion from last night's show to youtube, so here it is.

True Companion and other favorites...

When I was a junior in high school my sister introduced me to a musician/album that quickly became one of my all-time favorites: Marc Cohn (his self titled album).  It didn't hurt that James Taylor sang background for one of the songs.  For your reference, Marc Cohn is the one who sings Walking In Memphis, which is probably the only song of his that really made it big.  Sad, because as good as that is, he also has so many other great ones.  

Included among my particular favorites is a song that I vowed back in high school was going to one day be my wedding song: True Companion.  That was 17 years ago, and I haven't yet used it but I still love it.  Marc played it at the concert I went to last night (thanks for the tickets Jen!) so I thought I'd share. Here's a clip of the 2nd verse... I actually have another clip with the remainder of the song, but these segments just take way too long for me to download.  So, this is all you get, but check it out on itunes (or on my playlist here... I believe it's on there).  I also include here for your listening pleasure the entire song of Walking in Memphis which I uploaded to youtube because that was quicker.  Enjoy! 

  

Two weddings and a trip to Capital Reef

Apparently last Friday was wedding day... both my cousin and my good friend were married on the same day, and luckily I was able to make it to celebrate both.  Luckily also, it was the one nice, sunny day out of the week (as opposed to the uncharacteristic rainy June that we've had - and I've enjoyed it immensely).  Here are pictures from my cousin's wedding since I didn't take any at Brian's.  

This is my dad's sister (my Aunt Lynne), my dad's brother and his wife (Uncle Don and Aunt Kaye), and my dad and mom.

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A few days later I went to Southern Utah, backpacking with my good friends Hed Rad and Shelly who were both in town for a short while.  It was so good to get away from the normal routine of things and enjoy the amazing world we have around us with dear friends.  It was an inspiring getaway.  Sometimes when I'm wrapped up in my life in Sandy I forget what an amazing state I live in and how much there is to see and experience.  I love Utah.  Where else can you see red rock, slot canyons, amazing forests, and interesting desert landscape all in one state?  Here are a few pics from our adventure to Upper Muley Twist Canyon in Capital Reef National Park.

We hiked in three miles and set up camp, then carried on with the next 9 miles of amazing terrain.  The hike goes through a (dry) creek that's between red rock.  A couple miles in you come to Saddle Arch, shown below.

At this point you hike up to the top of the canyon.  As we rose up out of the red rock, this completely different yet awesome scenery appeared.  The real life version, of course, was a bit more mesmerizing than this photo attempts to be.  

So as we continued on our hike along the ridge, to the right was the above shot, and to the left was the below.  Both pictures were taken standing in the same spot.

Eventually you make your way back down to the creek and go through (or around) the narrows portion.

Above are Hed Rad (Heather Raddatz who was visiting from Portland and is about to move to Africa for a year to start a school there) and Shells (Shelly Karren who was visiting from Boston after completing her Masters Degree).  Needless to say, I was among inspiring friends.  

Shells did her best to camoflauge her feet to match the wilderness around her.

This hike is amazing.  Our only regret was not doing it a month or so earlier when there was a little flowing water to enjoy.  As Shelly said, "The water would surely add the 5th star to this hike." But alas, it has dried up for the most part now.  Still, no regrets.  It was beautiful.  

Loaves, fishes, and a Real game

That describes my weekend. Our friend Adam took Connie and me fishing on free fishing day... We caught four fish, and they were big suckers... at least 6 inches each.  The one jumping out of Adam's hand was my third catch of the day.

Then I met up with my great friend and former mission companion Amber and her husband and son at the Real soccer game. I love going to Real games and any live sporting events, and it was great to catch up with Amber... she lives in Reno so we don't get together too often. 

And finally I made bread...the good and healthy, filling kind, made with freshly ground wheat.  I didn't mean to make quite so much though.... so if anyone is in need, come on over. :)

Don't Stop

I'm not a big concert goer anymore.  I used to attend them as often as possible in my middle and high school days... now they're not as much of a priority.  Part of that is because I listen to less mainstream music and those artists don't come as often.  The other part is that the concerts I would have attended have gotten so blasted expensive.  From $20 20 years ago to triple that these days. that's quite the inflation.

In the past year the concerts I've been to include the Telluride music festival (including Ryan Adams & Ani DiFranco), James Taylor, Neil Diamond (Diamond is forever), and last night... Fleetwood Mac.  As I was writing this I realized that strangely, but not so much so if you know him at all, I attended every one with my omniscient music friend Christian.  He probably goes to as many concerts in a week as I do in a year.

Last night's show was amazing. I'm glad I went.  I wasn't going to... and in a moment of weakness and when it was reported that the tickets were going to be less than they actually ended up being I said yes.  I wouldn't have if I knew the correct price before they were purchased, but because of it I had a great and memorable evening, and I have had many great songs running through my head ever since.  I love Fleetwood Mac's music, and they put on an incredible show.  The only element missing was Christine McVie.  Sadly, without Christine there was no "You Make Loving Fun", "Everywhere", "Hold Me", or "Songbird".... all huge losses.  Yet, we got "Go Your Own Way", "Second Hand News", "Rhiannon", "Gypsy", "Dreams", "Sara", "Silver Spring", "Say You Love Me", "Landslide", "Big Love"... and towards the end when they sang "Don't Stop" I was yelling afterwards for them to not stop, and they listened to me... we got an encore or two.  Thanks Mick, Stevie and Lindsey.