Shhhhhhhhh!!!!

My new favorite hobby is quiet time outside. This may sound a little unexciting, perhaps causing the response of, “And……?”. This new obsession started one day after work when the triple digits gave up their fascist reign of sauna like conditions over our town and a crisp cool day came in like much needed grace and turned all our frowns up side down. The Spring had been beautiful and the start of summer still found me out in the yard pulling weeds and planting anything that bloomed in shades of pink or purple. But when the rain stuck around and temperatures soared to 98 (with a feels like 106), I surrendered and remained indoors.

But something like 6 weeks of uncomfortable stickiness was over and the air felt so soft and comforting. I ran home, turned off the a/c and opened all my windows. The hardback of “Eat Pray Love” had come in the mail that I’d ordered from Amazon after I saw the movie. (I do things backwards). And I was dying to read it outside. I grabbed an outdoor picnic blanket I’d bought after seeing it in “Real Simple” magazine that had been sitting in my car for about 2 months wondering why the hell I bought it.

Incidentally my co-worker friend has the same blanket and on most of her lunch breaks she goes to the park or to her car and reads and takes a nap. I could never adjust after napping in the middle of the day so this never interested me but the picnic blanket at the park seemed very serene. People do that in movies don’t they?

There’s an 80 acre park behind my house that no one seems to know about as 90 percent of the time I’m the only one out there. I take the dogs, my blanket, my book, a tie down stake for Patrick and we’re off. Depending on variables sometimes other things come with us like string cheese or a bottle of water but we keep it pretty simple. Zoe will run the fields with a giant doggie smile while Patrick content with his 25 feet will dig and sniff out invisible creatures in the grass fanning the clouds with his constant waving tail. The only sound my mind focuses on is the occasional bird. It’s so peaceful that you can’t imagine why people talk so much.


After the first few days unwinding after work I was hooked and needed more. So some days on my lunch break I come home take off my work clothes, throw on a cotton sun dress and off I’d go with a blanket, book and puppies in hand. Why did my friend not stress to me more just how awesome this little break in the day is. 20 minutes later I am more relaxed and hopeful that the rest of the day will be better. I venture back to the faster pace of life filled with voices asking questions and complaining about anything they can think to mention. Its quickly evident these people all need a quiet lunch break with a book, a blanket and if they are really lucky, puppies and string cheese. So I pass this idea on to persuade you to try it and try it immediately.

Awakened from a Knapp

“Jennifer Knapp is Back” (click on pics to enlarge-all photos subject to copyright-S.Bello'09)

One of the things I love about my new home in Franklin Tennessee is its proximity to great music. You can’t throw a cowboy boot without hitting a Grammy winner…or at the very least a nominee.

But much like living in Hawaii and never going to the beach, I seldom make a point to go to the concerts I hear about. I miss my favorite acts quite frequently actually.

While updating the Facebook world on my much anticipated status, an ad on the side caught my eye, “Knapp is Back” concert at Bellcourt Theater. Fully accepting the fact that my computer could be filled with viruses, I clicked the ad. Miraculously I wasn’t taken to an Adult site or anything with a flashing banner. The ad was true! I bought tickets for the show asap as the Ingrid Michaelson show at the same venue sold out before I could nab seats and I still bring that story up when I want to feel lame.

I hadn’t seen Jennifer Knapp in concert since “Kansas”. I was living in Hawaii at the time of the last two albums and no one comes to Hawaii unless they were a hit in the 70’s or 80’s and some moron talks them into a comeback tour. My friend Jenna and I had made the mistake of attending the Jefferson Starship concert. We thought we'd be building this city on Rock and Roll and instead it was new awful acoustic folk songs leaving everyone confused that wasn’t just there to smoke pot, wear their old hippy clothes and relive their youth. Those people were confused already.


I took my boyfriend to the concert and tried to bring him up to speed on who Jennifer Knapp was on our 45 minute car ride while listening to “The Way I Am”.
Even with the winter weather, there was a line out front of the Theater over an hour before the doors opened. My crowd ice breaker was the suggestion that we should all huddle together for body heat. This followed with “where ya froms” Knapp Q and A with fun facts and some very detailed info from a man in the back whom led us all to believe that he may in fact be a stalker of some sort. A super fan that drove here from Georgia was behind me. She’d got there when there was no one around and popped over to the Pub for a beer. She returned with a few expletives to the sight of the line. She was very friendly and/or tipsy and quickly introduced herself to everyone within hand shaking distance then introduced those people to each other. Once inside, our new little group of line friends (except the stalker guy) decided to all sit together. We ran down front and nabbed the third row, which was actually the first row as the 1st and 2nd row were folding chairs that had been brought in. I looked behind me and mentioned how full the place got when someone told me the show was sold out.


The hour before the show gave us plenty of getting to know each other time. Georgia had introduced the second row to the third and forth row and we were all chatting. No newbies among us, we’d all been fans since the first album. We were comprised of mostly 30-somethings talking about their high school and early college years of going to Christian concerts. We’d all since moved off our Islands and lived the lives that would have made those teenagers gasp. This brought one man to say, “this is the best Christian concert I’ve ever been too and it hasn’t even started yet!”. =P


When Knapp took the stage everyone stood up with applause and shouts of joy. We’d missed the music and were excited for its return. To this day there has been nothing like it. Nothing remotely close to fill the void. Her lyrics had such a brutal truth and her albums always missing one element….fluff. Knapp’s voice showed no signs of the long absence from the stage and she’d brought a steller band with her.

Paul Moak (stage right Guitar and also plays for Over the Rhine, Sixpence None the Richer, Mat Kearney, Matt Redman, Toby Mac, Plumb etc)



Tony Lucido (bass and also plays with Toby Mac, Ginny Owens, Francesca Battistelli)



Jeremy Lutito (drummer also drums for Jars of Clay, Mat Kearney etc) Drummers are the hardest to photograph. 1) their arms and head move a lot and 2) other musicians are always standing in front of them. This was the best one, sorry Jeremy.






Nathan Dugger (stage left Guitar) sorry Nathan, I googled you but no luck.



I can’t remember if “A little More” or “The Way I am” started the show. (This is why blogs should be written no later than 24 hours after…not 2 months later when your memory is foggy at best) But they were both amazing and I’m convinced everyone in the crowd was singing along. I know I was.




The set list was a mix of old and new with the full band and a small acoustic set in the middle of the show which she brought Amy Court on stage to harmonize on songs like Usher me Down, Martyrs & Thieves, Fall down, etc. “Fall down” being one of my favorite Knapp songs and tears me up every time I hear it, so I was very happy for its inclusion. Knapp explained how Amy was a musician and fan who contacted her on Myspace. There’s a longer story to that of course but I didn’t take notes so I’ll leave it at that. My brain would butcher the story at this point.


The new songs were worth the wait bringing about the edgier rock side of her music. A few in particular like “Dive In” I wanted to listen too again right away. And when there is no album to buy in the lobby afterwards it can be very confusing to your soul, “you mean I have to be patient??”. What?!?! Patience is so un-American.


It was a great show that left the masses satisfied. And knowing that most of us had been waiting 4 or 5 years for it, that’s saying a lot.

Between songs someone yelled out, “when’s the new album coming out?” at which she replied in a raspy voice, “When I’m good and ready”. =)





Knapp throws a pick to "Georgia" who called out for one. Afterwards someone else in the audience said, "I hope you brought enough for everyone". =P

Me and gutsy "Georgia" by the stage.

Knapp has been in the studio and there was mention of a 2010 release but no promises. Here’s hoping! Welcome back Knapp, we missed you!
Check out Jen's Website and Myspace page for new songs and upcoming news. She's also scheduled for Lilith Fair this summer. I plan on attending, its just a matter of what city. =)
http://www.jenniferknapp.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jenniferknapp
http://www.lilithfair.com/

Time After Time... Attending “LOVE (as it turns out) is a Battlefield” benefit concert for Blood: Water Mission

While checking out the “what’s happening” collage wall at Portland Brew I saw a poster up advertising a free benefit concert “Love (as it turns out) is a Battlefield”. The only name that was familiar at first was Sarah Masen, then the cause “Blood: Water Mission”. Being an almost rabid fan of Jars of Clay, I had heard about it many times through the magical world of Myspace bulletins. If Sarah Masen is playing then I’ll probably like the other artists I thought. Later at Ugly Mugs, I saw the same poster and was reminded I shouldn’t miss it. FYI, I didn’t have coffee at both places…I do have a Mocha addiction but it’s under control. =)

In my house growing up, my parents “preferred” that I listen to music I could buy at the local Christian book store. I’d spend a lot of time at the listening stations searching for something that moved me and not in a vomiting from too much cheese kind of way. While my friends were listening to the likes of Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, and Beck…I had Sixpence None the Richer, Hoi Polloi, Amy Grant and Jars of Clay.

Sarah Masen was a fav. Her first album I adored. She was only 4 years older than me and I gravitated towards singer songwriters that seem to do it all. And when I was nineteen I cut my hair like her….it turned out to be a hideous mistake. Being petite, you’d think I could pull off a Pixie…but you’d be wrong. So very very wrong. I remember my boss at the mall store I worked at saying I looked very “butch”. Umm, that wasn’t the look I was going for.

I’m in the process of purchasing a motor vehicle and so the ride situation I had not thought through. Thankfully after airing a distress call in the form of a Facebook status, one of my friends from the Art Fair circuit, that wanted to go too, offered to pick me up. Horray for Facebook!


My friend L, turns out, lives about a second away from me in East Nash. She drove us to the Downtown Prepaterian Church, a historical landmark and still functioning church, where the concert was being held. The structure has actually been rebuilt 3 times after two fires. The last fire burning it to the ground in 1848…but you can’t stop the church! Ha, take that fire, we’ll just rebuild!

Not being aptly prepared, I only had my MACRO lens with me so here is a picture from the Church’s website.

Interesting enough, when the inside was being designed, America was going through an Egyptian Revival Style period. L and I couldn’t figure out if it had been designed then added too or if someone actually thought it all through…but apparently they did…or thought they did. That Keith Green song “So you wanna go back to Egypt” kept playing in my head. =P

Sarah Masen’s husband, author David Dark was the Host for the evening. He described the meaning of the title of the concert and how the 80’s were very relevant. In keeping with the theme, a lot of the artists would be covering their favorite 80’s songs as well as some originals.

I can’t seem to escape 80’s music.


Sarah was first. She played the guitar and sang the REM song “Fall on Me” with her daughter on backup vocals. Familiar with the song, I don’t think I’d ever listened to the lyrics. What a beautiful song. Sarah sang two other covers before the next artist Justin Caldwell came up.

Justin Caldwell, I had never heard before but he had a great voice. It was very earthy, slightly jazzy voice with great melodies to his originals. I should have kept track on the 80’s titles people were playing. Perhaps someone will chime in on what he sang.

Between the mini sets, they played 80’s commercials on the movie screen next to the stage. Everything from the boom box cassette player that will change your life to car commercials to Arcade Games. It was quite enjoyable.

Up next was Sandra McCracken. She covered “Time after Time” which had much audience participation. I forgot to mention that the church was full to the brim and L and I were sitting in the second row on the right. =)







Sandra McCraken also played some originals and I knew immediately I would be visiting her CD table after the show. Her husband came to play the guitar with her, who was none other than Derek Webb, formally of Caedmon’s Call…another favorite of mine. The night just keeps getting better! I heart Nashville.








The final musician was Matthew Perryman Jones. He covered a few 80’s songs…one was a favorite and I can’t for the life of me remember which one it was…lol. I just remembered a Sting song but it could have been Justin who’d sung it.


Sarah Masen came up and sang backup.

The speaker for the night was “Blue Like Jazz” author Donald Miller. He and David talked about Blood: Water Mission and how the public viewed global consciousness and awareness in the 80’s and how they do now. Donald was saying that we’ve gotten very good with the awareness part…it’s the doing that we need to work on. As in, everyone likes to wear the T-shirt…but who is going to Africa and getting dirty?


Speaking of T-shirts, I bought one and I love it. I guess I have to go to Africa now so I’m not a hypocrite. =) The art is blood and water tricking down and turning into birds that fly. It super soft cotton too…I’m very impressed with whoever choose the design and fabric choice. I’d like to give at shout out to that person…it’s like totally awesome.


A little info about Blood: water mission from their website:
Blood:Water Mission (founded by the band “Jars of Clay”) is a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crisis. They exist to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Blood:Water Mission is building clean water wells, supporting medical facilities, and focusing on community and worldview transformation, both here in America and in Africa.

Everyone came up at the end to sing an Elvis Costello song.

As L and I wandered out of our pews, I stopped to tell Sarah Masen the last time I saw her in concert I was about 15 and she replied, “I probably was too!”. =P I treated myself to a Sandra McCraken cd “Red Balloon” on my way out. It’s very good! I think you need to order it on my recommendation. If you don’t trust my taste…fine…check out her Myspace first than wussies.

L dropped me by “Decades” on Broadway after the show as “Bob” was playing in a 80’s cover band there, so the 80’s night continued and it Shook Me All Night Long.

http://www.bloodwatermission.com/
http://www.sarahmasen.com/
http://www.sandramccracken.com/

Radnor Lake Hike just outside of Nashville

It’s been a long time coming but I finally got to explore a little bit of Nature in Nashville.
Located a mere 8 miles from the downtown area is a oasis in the lush Overton Hills (when I think of hills, I think of something you ride a bike down…these are small mountains) sits 85 acre Radnor Lake. Once we got off the highway we headed down Harding Place which led to the incredible Forrest Hills area. Forrest Hills is so beautiful it could be a life goal to own a home there. A girl needs a goal!!

Otter Road leads to the parking (one of two ways to get there) for Radnor Lake.
The trail map boasts of different trails you can take from easy to moderate to difficult. We decided to take the Lake Trail (easy) which goes around the lake then switch to the South Lake Trail (moderate) that goes up the mountain a little then back down to the Lake Trail to get back around the lake. There is also Ganier Ridge Trail and South Cove Trail that are labeled difficult. Both are a little over a mile and look to go across the top of the “hill”.


Not even ¼ of a mile into the hike we saw dear. They were very close to the trail and the 3 adults had a fawn with them. I of course was not prepared for wildlife so quickly and was fumbling with getting my camera out and missed them. Luckily just around the bend I heard the rustling of leaves.



The lake itself was a tad bit algaefied. It was bright green and with the bright blue sky was actually quite beautiful but I’d never want to swim in it. Besides, I’m sure its full of snakes or leaches…or shrieking eels.


The trail along side the lake was wonderful and clean with occasional walker mommies with their strollers going by. Besides a few spots where the sun beamed between branches, the trail was almost completely shaded. At one point I looked out at the algae that looked to be a lime jello mould across part of the lake, and I saw a small pink Croc sitting on the algae. It looked to be walking across the lake. How it got there…my guess would be an older brother threw it…just a guess. In my opinion it was a fashion choice and he did the world a favor.



The trail leading up the “hill” was lovely and serene. For most of the trail it was just us.


Just us and the squirrels, the turtles, the dear, the lizards, the chipmunks and the birds.










Anytime I heard the leaves I’d look for creatures. For the most part it was squirrels or Robins but a couple of times it was very fast moving chipmunks or another dear. The trees reached high above us and shaded our footsteps.


Half way into our trip around the lake we noticed this sign. They really are serious about it being a “walking” trail only. There is no mention of skipping however. And how exactly did they come up with the fine amount? I've never seen one with cents before. 

We stopped at a small deck with benches to snack on strawberries and cherries from “Trader Joe’s”. They were sweet, large and awesome by the way.

While sitting in this amazing setting and watching the lake, we saw a dear swimming across. How weird…I guess he is taking the shortcut. Watch out for snakes buddy!!


Another dear sighting a little closer this time.

It was a perfect day for a great walk. In all it was about a 3.5 mile trip. We took our time, walking, talking, looking for animals and of course stopping for pictures. =)