Songs and Smells

“Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory.” - Oscar Wilde

There is nothing like songs and/or smells to bring a memory rushing back.  Certain songs remind you of good times and others of bad times.  Sometimes you listen to a song and don't even know that you are relating it to the time you are currently having.  I'm like a lot of people in that I really profess to enjoy music, but I'm not very knowledgeable about how to make music.  I really wish I knew how to play an instrument and am sometimes bummed out that I don't have music as an avenue to express myself.  I should really pick up those guitar lessons again. This is why music seems like magic to me and is, therefore, that much more enjoyable.

This past weekend was Austin City Limits.  It is a three day live music festival in Austin, Texas.  This is the 4th year I have gone and I seem to enjoy it more each time.  I was lucky enough for my friend Efrain to fly in from LA to attend with me.  He really knows his music and bands.  In college I went to a lot of concerts with Efrain and that was probably the most concerts I had ever gone to in one year. Those were some great memories. A lot of friends I have gone with in the past either did not come this year or I did not run into at the festival.  I think the most fun part of ACL is spending it with your friends and it never hurts to be in the company of a pretty girl, which is always nice as well.  I had a great time this year and discovered a lot of new bands I had never heard before. Three days outdoors for a music festival is quite the test of endurance I will say.  Add to that the almost 1.7 mile hikes to and from the car to start and end each day and you can only imagine the workout I got.  I won't get into a run down of all the bands I heard since there were so many, but it was pretty great. We were even able to take in an after show downtown on Friday night which was a lot of fun.  I'm looking forward to going again next year even though the prices went up.

As far as an update goes, life has been relatively busy, but nothing notable has really happened.  Work has also been really busy, which is something I always welcome.  I have been a bit isolationist these past few months and I have also been a bit of scattered mess, but I'm sure I'll get things in order soon.  Friendships are important and I have a lot of catching up to do with a lot of friends who I have not spent a lot of time with.   The good news is that football season is upon us and that makes me very happy.  This week the Fall TV shows will get started and that is always a great time for me.  I don't even know if I can take on new favorite shows, but I'm sure I'll find some.

I'm very good about wanting to do things, especially things to better myself.  As is my cycle, I take on new hobbies and after a while start to neglect them.  It has been a while since I picked up a new project and tried to learn something new. I need to get on that.  For example, I feel like I would really like to learn to cook.  Not super well, just like enough to make a few dishes I could enjoy and live on.  I wish I had good friends that knew how to cook that could help me learn.  I not very much of a foodie, so taking a class isn't even a consideration.  I just need to buy some food and read the directions on the box. I'm not helpless, I mean I can BBQ and make a few things, but I'm sure there are ways to be able to have more cooking options.

isn't she lovely