Next year, River Cats

I love going to baseball games. Just thought I'd put that out there.

and there's glitter on the floor

Yes, I paid money to see Ke$ha live. Yes, she was pretty bad. Yes, I wore a ton of glitter. No, I don't regret it.

LMFAO (one of her openers) were awesome, however, and damn, those guys could break dance. This video doesn't really do my previous statement justice.

Dear San Francisco Giants,

One of these days you will win a game I go to.

Love, Kim

It's Timmy!

Pablo being congratulated after a splash hit home run:

Matt Cain pinch running!

Is this a beautiful ballpark or what?

Vogelsong is a beast

(First three pictures from Giants vs Padres on Independence Day, last two from Giants vs Pirates 8/8/11)

Bats are really cool!

and I took this video!

Wynton Marsalis- belated review

A week and a half ago, my dad and I went to the Mondavi Center here in Davis to see Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. They were fantastic.

We had good seats, though bringing binoculars was a good call on my dad's part. I loved watching the other players while one soloed. The drummer, Ali Jackson, especially looked like he was just having a blast. Every one of the trombonists and trumpeters were excellent, each in their own way. The sax/clarinet guys were great too, but being a trumpet player, I think I appreciate brass players more.

I enjoyed the concert more than I had expected. It's not that I expected not to enjoy it; I suppose I had forgotten how much I enjoy jazz. It made me miss playing in the Jazz ensemble at Carleton. I did see my band director from high school, though he didn't recognize me. This was hardly surprising as he could hardly remember my name even when I was in his class. Saved me from some awkward small talk in any case. It wasn't a sold out concert, but fairly full and the audience was very appreciative. For good reason, these are probably some of the top jazz musicians of today.

My favorite piece they played (a hard choice- they were all so good!) was part of a Marsalis piece called (if I remember/scribbled on my program in the dark correctly) You Got to Watch the Holy Ghost because all of the instruments had parts where they made really crazy noises. It was written for a church I think, and it would have been cool to sit in a chapel and hear it.

Bottom Line: Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra are stellar.

rain?!

A year ago today, it was 102ºF. That's pretty normal. Maybe a little hotter than average. Today it's like 60º and thunderstorming. What is this, winter?

"How great is life today" -Scott Heinig, 1988-2011

Railroad Revival Tour

Well, I'll get my complaining away first off and then just focus on what was awesome about this concert. My mom and I arrived a little late, so it was partly our fault we missed Old Crow Medicine Show's set, but the line was absolutely ridiculous (literally like a mile long) even 45 minutes into the show. They really should have opened the doors earlier since even people who arrived early missed some of the show. But we got in during the set change and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes were next.

Now of the three bands, they were my least favorite anyway. And they just didn't bring it. The first two songs sounded better live than on their album, but it just never took off. So I went and found Ale and a couple of her friends and got a beer and danced to Home and then Ale and I went back to where mom and I had set up chairs.

And then came Mumford and Sons! Even though I was in line for the bathroom for their first two songs, from the beginning they were awesome. They brought so much energy to the stage and were absolutely amazing to see live. I love their sound anyway, but it was so much fun to hear them live! They played a couple of new songs too, which while I couldn't sing along, had a great sound.

Then of course members of all the bands came out for an encore in which they sang what I am guessing is called "This Train is Bound for Glory." So that was fun. The entire show had very good energy, and even when waiting in line and clearly missing the first act, everyone was in good spirits. And of course there was all sorts of flannel and hipster hippies (for lack of a better term). Also, that Middle Shoreline Park in Oakland is a fabulous place for a concert!

Bottom line: Mumford and Sons kick ass.

Aside from the girls behind me loudly singing along despite knowing none of the lyrics and the point where I help Ale onto the ledge I was standing on and the fact that I was excited and bouncy at the end and quite far from the stage (thank you 10x zoom), this video I took isn't bad. Plus it's my favorite song. I can even play it on my uke.