Merry Christmas

Winter is coming...to Key West

Rain, wind, cool gray skies.

Blue sky and palm trees

View from poolside in Key West

Holidays and Wedding Rings

Album of the year for 2015 will be Holidays and Wedding Rings by Jamie Lin Wilson.  I heard all twelve songs played in order last Saturday night (November 8) at Anderson Fair in Houston. I had heard the closing song on the album, Old Oldsmobile, back in February at a Rock Room concert in Austin.  Jamie was writing a song a week with a few of her close music friends. The subject for one of the weeks in early February presented itself when she unexpectedly found out she had number three on the way. Most of Jamie's songs come from her life experience and you get to hear some of the story in her live concerts.

When the album becomes available, buy and listen.  You will not be disappointed.

BOO!!!

Small Towns in Tuscany

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allthingstuscany/aroundtuscany/small-towns-tuscany/

Toured one and drove by several of these.

Any Reason is a Good Reason...

... to head on down to Key West.

Question:  What is the logical response to a business trip that has a meeting ending at 5 pm on a Thursday in Coral Gables?

Answer:  Thursday night to Saturday afternoon trip to Key West.

Stayed at the La Concha for the first time, after walking by and viewing sunsets from the top floor many times.  Nice hotel, friendly staff, but currently under "construction" to add a spa to the roof, also making parking hard to find the first (or second, or third) time driving by the entrance.

Not What It Seems

House Concert with Jamie Wilson

I was fortunate enough to have family and close friends at the house last night as we hosted a concert with an amazing and talented singer/songwriter, Jamie Lin Wilson.  Jamie is a storyteller who turns events and places from her life into beautiful songs. We have been to her solo and Trishas shows many times and always had a very enjoyable time. Her songs are touching and funny, serious and silly, sometimes all in the same song. The stories about her life and about how she was inspired to write the songs is an integral part of every performance.

Party Time Parrotheads

Bubba's back in town!

Venice

Gondola ride in some light to heavy rain was great.

Day Three in Italy

Italy is awesome.  Two days in Rome and now in Siena.  The red wine is excellent.  The countryside here is magnificent.

Ciao Roma!

Just bought train tickets for Rome to Siena, Siena to Florence, Florence to Venice, and Venice back to Rome.

Already have air tickets and hotels.  Can't wait.

April 15 and 39 F In Southeast Texas???

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/spring-tx/77381/daily-weather-forecast/33716_pc?day=1


The ice age is here.

Tools

http://xkcd.com/1343/

In the round at the Rock Room

Four wonderful singer/songwriters up close and personal in the Rock Room at Westwood Country Club in Austin.  Two of The Trishas (Jamie Wilson and Kelley Mickwee) along with Jason Eady and soon to be wife Courtney Patton.  A couple of interesting announcements.  One is that Courtney and Jason are getting married in three weeks. The other is that Jamie is expecting her third child, due date September 3.  The four in this group of singers and friends have been writing a song a week each.  Jason did a funny song about how he had to write a song two hours before the deadline (5 pm Fridays) while waiting to pick up his daughter at school.  Jamie said she skipped the week when she found out she was 10 weeks pregnant, but had a humorous one she performed about baby number three being on the way.

A lot of new songs and some old favorites.  The Rock Room is a rustic and cozy setting with good acoustics.  I would like to go again soon and listen to some other up and comings singers.