my little blue unicorn...

Sophie is playing soccer. It is quite cute. Mostly she just runs down the field, kicks the ball, then turns to us on the sidelines and gives us a huge smile and two thumbs up. It is hard not to love that. Maybe she will develop some soccer skills one day... maybe not. Either way, I love her to death and she is so fun to watch. Her team is called the blue unicorns and I think so far this season they are 0-4. They don't know the difference. Parker is still wearing his "new" jersey everyday... ( he now sports an official Willie Parker jersey that for the life of me I cannot get him to take off) and he sits on the sidelines and cheers..."Go Gopie!" We are loving being a little soccer family. (and a little Steelers family too!)

Sgt. Peppers in a box, Nebraska on my wall, and Paul.

The first album I ever bought was the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves soundtrack. I was 12 years old. I'm not sure whether I used the album as a soundtrack to my loneliness- singing along with Bryan Adams softly as the 12 year old girls passed me by uncomfortably; or a soundtrack to the personally scripted robin hood re-enactments I was staging in my basement (a practice that may help explain the aforementioned loneliness.) Both propositions are damning so I haven't really sought any historical clarification. This much I do know, sometime that year I found, in the basement (or, as I may or may not have been calling it privately, "Nottingham"), a box with my parents records. Within an hour I had heard, for the first time, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Shortly thereafter, Tad Henderson requested Tyler and I take a break from writing letters to Pittsburgh Pirate center fielder Andy Van Slyke asking for his autograph and come upstairs for dinner. There he played us Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, again on vinyl. And almost in an instant, Bryan Adams became "my youthful mistake."
Had I never found those records I may not have cared that the videographer put Butterfly Kisses on my wedding video without my consent.
Or that the U2 version of Unchained Melody was used at some dance in high school instead of the Righteous Brothers (though both are quite good.)
Or that Cha Cha told Dan that Jeff Buckley wrote Hallelujah.
Or that Paul Jacobsen released a stellar album this month.

Had I never found those records this might all be meaningless to me. (And I may still be referring to myself as "Locksley.") As it is though, I have the sleeve of Nebraska, a recent Christmas gift from Tad, framed and hanging on my wall.
And I have listened to Paul's new album all week.

Six days before the end of the month, I am officially declaring Paul Jacobsen and the Madison Arm September's Album of the Month.

Paul is a great songwriter, and this is an album full of great songs. The collection comes together, for me, as a celebration of all that makes us human. It is a testament to the quality of the writing that an album whose characters seem to be consistently longing for something they can't reach can leave it's listener feeling so hopeful. These songs find the beauty not only in the divine but the desperate. Try "You're the Song," "Western Skies" and "At That Day."

No matter which side you come down on in the Bryan Adams debate, this is a really great album and we think you should own it. We think this so strongly, in fact, that we bought it for you. We've got five of them. Tell us if you want one. (you want one.) You can also get the album at cdbaby.com (http://cdbaby.com/cd/pauljacobsen2

If you are in Utah, Paul will be having a seriously stacked bill CD release concert on Saturday night at the Fort Douglass Theatre near the University of Utah. This is a really great venue for those of you who have never been there. Dominic Moore (sooo cool) and Sara Sample will open. Show starts at 7:00 and 10 bucks gets you a ticket and a cd. Come with us. I'll buy you a soda.

Click on the "John is listening to" image to hear more from or about Paul Jacobsen.

good morning.

I looked out my big front window today. I live on a really beautiful, tree lined street and in front of every house today is a flag. It looks so neat. Late last night on the phone with a friend I was reminded that today is September 11th. She and the young women helped put them all up today. One of the emotions that September 11th always brings brimming to the surface for me is love. Weird, maybe... maybe not. It just seemed to shake people enough, or at least me enough, at the time- where I really felt love towards everyone. I wanted to hold the people I loved a little tighter, and I wanted them to know- for sure- that I loved them.

It seems like the blogging world allows you to step into people's lives so innocently. While there are blogs that are happy, funny,honest, and maybe not so honest- lately I have been touched by the blogs that have made my heart hurt. I have seen the nie nie buttons on people's blogs, and have started to read cjanerun to keep updated on the plane crash victims. I stumbled across my sweet friend from High School, Kim, who just found out her five year old has leukemia. My list could go on and on. I think everyone really is fighting their own battles the best they know how.

So, even if just for today, I am going to try better. I am going to hug my kids longer.I am going to be more patient. I am going to kiss my husband the second he walks in the door. And I am really going to try to slow down long enough to remember what really matters. And today, that started with a waffles for my kids, and waffles and a diet coke for me. Now I am going to go snuggle with my kids, while the dishes sit undone.

oh sweet, sweet vanessa...

I have a few embarrasing moments under my belt. I have fallen down in public way too many times to count. I have broken stools while sitting on them. When I taught, I once read a book to my second graders with a huge hole in the crotch of my pants- just at their eyelevel. ( I believe I was like 10 months pregnant at the time- so I really couldn't see it). Besides these so called embarrasing moments- I have been told recently that I also have somewhat embarrasing taste in music/media.

For example:

I rented What Happens in Vegas and made John watch it with me.

I LOVE the High School Musical movies. Love them. Seriously. I could watch them over and over. I cannot wait til the third one comes out!!!!

I have a crush on Zac Efron's dance moves. I know he is like 5'2' or something. I just can't help it.

I think the t.v. show Hannah Montana is funny.

Why- you say- would you ever admit this on your blog? Well here is why. I have now seen in concert:
1. Hannah Montana
2. The Jonas Brothers
and
3. Vanessa Hudgens

(as somewhat of a disclaimer: they were all events that I was given tickets to. Hannah Montana/The Jonas Brothers was b/c of the very hip and cool Katie of "Katie and Elliot". And mind you- she gave me 30 tickets to the taping of the 3d movie concert and I got to distribute them to a many happy teeny boppers and chaperones. Jonas Brothers rocked. So does Katie.)

I have a very nice cousin Jamie. She married a very cool guy named Steve. Steve is on the board of directors for the State Fair. He offered us Vanessa Hudgens tickets- and a little meet and greet with the Gabriella superstar. Who can turn that down? Not I! So, my Mom and Dad, Sophie, Naomi, Kate, and Annie and I all set off to the fair for the show. It was really fun. We got to go into the little venue early where we waited for our chance to say hi to Vanessa. They walked us around a little trailer and there she was in all her 4'8" glory. ( I don't really know how tall she is- she just looked TINY sitting there. Like a little peanut.) She was beautiful actually. And Sophie was thrilled because in our 30 second exchange/paid photo op she told Sophie that she had beautiful eyes. So hopefully we will get to order our pictures and have proof of that moment, since they wouldn't allow us to take our own pictures. Here are other pictures of the fun filled fair night and the "$25 in tickets" ferris wheel ride that we took afterwards.

Here is the group ( minus me) waiting to meet Vanessa.Steve- the man who made it happen. Thanks Steve! You are the best.Sophie, Mushie and Kate sharing drinks and french fries. We love the fair. Annie waiting. What a cute smile.This is proof that my awesome Dad was there. He was a good sport!

PS. Some of my other favorites that I wholeheartedly endorse: Bananarama, The Outfield, YAZ, Michael Jackson, Enrique, Just Married, Sweet Home Alabama, P.S. I love you, The O.C, Smallville...

preschool, steelers jersey, and kissy faces...

Sophie officially started preschool again. Parker and I hang out together. (That is after I remove him from the preschool room kicking and screaming that he wants to stay.)It is fun to hang out with just Parker. I don't do it enough really. He is funny and wants to do funny things together. We are having fun. He does insist almost everyday, and if I am honest, every night, in wearing his Steelers jersey over his t-shirt. It is quite cute. Though I keep having to try and sneak it away to wash it.

Back to the Preschool note. I keep trying to take pictures of Sophie in various cute "preschool places" with her preschool buddy/bff Henry. Her latest request...

"Mom, can I make a kissy face now?"

"Huh?"

I will give you one clue where she learned this. Her name rhymes with FAR IN. ( answer: my very professional kissy faced sister ... Lauren.) Sophie, my mom and I just went to visit Lauren in her new college life environment and somehow Sophie came home with the kissy face. Lauren- you will need to help Sophie perfect it. It isn't as good as yours. small confession: my roomates in college used to tell me that i could never make a normal kissy face. it is true. it always looks wierd. perhaps this will too be sophie's fate. i am sorry if kissy face abilities are genetic.

And now... a few more cute ones.

smart, qualified, and mean.

Not just her. I'm talking about all of them. But concerning her and in response to her very well delivered speech, earlier today I was thinking, "everybody, lay off Sarah Palin." Now I'm thinking, "Sarah Palin, lay off everybody." Sarcasm doesn't invite sympathy. So, the gloves are officially off. Who has the right experience? Who has the right judgement? Who has the right vision for America? You make the call.
I can't help but believe there are real and good intentioned people topping the ticket on both sides. They say what they think they have to say. They beat the crap out of each other over meaningless things- saying their names are too Muslim, or their shirts don't have enough pins on them (flair? is this an "office space" joke?), or their daughters are too pregnant- because that's how elections are won. And in the end, their best hope is that we will hate them less than we hate their opponent. Maybe one day it will be different. Probably not.
So, in the spirit of having your hate grounded in fact- or in the spirit of trying to see past the spin and focus on more substantive issues- here are a few interesting, non-partisan web sites.

Politifact. A site that rates the truthfulness of the claims made by major players in the presidential campaigns and their ads. http://www.politifact.com/

Factcheck. Same idea, with a less exciting interface, but they have an interesting weekly "vidcast," video to summarize the week in politics. http://www.factcheck.org/

VA Joe Canidate Calculator. You answer 22 questions concerning your stance on key political issues, they tell you who you align with. If you don't know where you stand on the issue, click on the question, they will give a very brief summary of it. http://www.vajoe.com/candidate_calculator.html

Have fun.
Vote in November.

"Now a word on politics. This is an election year, and there are many strong and strident voices incident to political campaigning. It’s a wholesome and wonderful system that we have under which people are free to express themselves in electing those who shall represent them in the councils of government. I would hope that those concerned would address themselves to issues and not to personalities. The issues ought to be discussed freely, openly, candidly, and forcefully. But, I repeat, I would hope that there would be an avoidance of demeaning personalities." Gordon B. Hinckley, 1982.

Background Music

Back, in spite of popular lack of demand, is the only recurring feature on Johnandashleyconnors.blogspot.com- the album of the month. 'Months' technically, in this case. Amidst summer vacations, the sleep depriving Olympics, and the Political Party Conventions it's easy to miss out on the music. Or at least to push it into the background.
For my own sake, I will try to be better.

MAY- Two of my old favorites battled it out this month for top honors. In fact, I'm tempted to give them a tie since they have actually played together on the same bill in Utah. In 2006 Mates of State opened for Death Cab for Cutie in Orem. In 2008, both bands released notable albums in May. Try them both. Or if you wish to merely sample both, try "Bixby Canyon Bridge" or "Talking Bird" from the Death Cab's Narrow Stairs, and definitely try "The Re-arranger" and "Get Better" from Mates of State's Re-Arrange Us.

JUNE- A very good month for music. Particularly nice for Sub Pop records, with the highly anticipated releases of Wolf Parade and Fleet Foxes albums- both of which were good. They were outdone though, in my mind, by Sam Phillips new album Don't Do Anything. Great gritty electric guitar, beautiful piano, McCartney-esque chord progressions- this is a great album. Try "Can't Come Down," "Another Song" or "Shake It Down."

JULY- The Hold Steady's Stay Positive. No contest. Easy contender for top five of 2008. Great band. Great album. See them live if you can. They expand only slightly on their high energy, classic rock meets indie storyteller sound here, but it was a pretty solid sound to start with. I'm a sucker for it. Some people can't stand it. You make the call. Try "Stay Positive," Sequestered in Memphis," or "Lord, I'm Discouraged."

And that is all. Defend your favorite.