Music for your Midweek: George Parkinson - "Silver Lining"

George covers "Silver Lining" by Rilo Kiley. One of his favorites:

Miss you sweet George.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh

Last week, I went to George Parkinson's funeral. I had seen him just a week earlier, and couldn't reconcile our recent conversations with the fact that he was gone. It's still hard for me to wrap my head around.

4th of July, 2013

It's hard to know where to begin with George. He was unequivocally himself. He was creative, and talented, and funny. We bonded early over our shared love of music. He first remembered me because I told our second grade class that my favorite band was Ace of Base. I first remembered him because he taught me how to suck the helium out of balloons and sing the munchkin song from Wizard of Oz. He jumped at any opportunity to share his talents, something that I hope to emulate. I wish that everyone could know him.

Campfire at George's, September 2012

The events of the past couple weeks have thrown me back in time.

I've relived my last moments with George in my head a thousand times.

I've pored through photos and videos, reminiscing over the past 20 years of friendship.

I've felt the familiar pangs of grief and mourned again for the loss of my dad.

Death is senseless. Even with a belief in a creator, it feels cruel. I'm trying to stretch my vision into something more eternal, but my perspective is still constrained. Despite that, I've been able to find moments of peace. I am blessed by kind, thoughtful friends with patient ears.

A moment from this weekend's escape at Jacob Lake

I know from experience that I will always miss George. That pain won't lessen with time; his loss will always be felt. There is little I can do, but honor his memory by trying to be more like him. I hope to make some major course corrections, and live my life with same passion that George did. My dear friend Linds has been sharing words of comfort and encouragement with us. I especially love this quote from one of the articles she passed along:

"Our Heavenly Father ... knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were--better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before." 

- Thomas S. Monson

Sending love to George, and love to you all.

Music for your Midweek: 'Til Tuesday - "Voices Carry"

"I'm so happy the band's doing well... 

By the way, what's with the hair? 

Is that part of the new 'image'?"

Get ready for a great 4 minutes and 18 seconds. I like my movies to be like music videos, and my music videos to be like movies. This one delivers.

I want Aimee Mann's hair soooo bad. Maybe I can get extensions to fake the Padawan braid?

Beauty

November Mix: Remnants

Too cold for any fun. Just stay inside and listen to some music.

1. All My Loving - Amy Winehouse

2. Baby Baby - Tropkillaz

3. I Summon You - Spoon

4. The Build Up - Kimbra

5. So Sorry - Feist

6. How Can You Live With Yourself? - Alex Anwandter 

7. Queen - Perfume Genius

8. Leave Me Alone - New Order

9. World of Pleasure - Radioactivity

10. Blackbird Through the Dark - Patrick Park

11. Without a Face - Luluc

12. Waiting - Alice Boman

13. Kiss Me Again - Jessica Lea Mayfield

14. Coming Home - Leon Bridges

Here's the Spotify playlist. Several tracks missing:



NOTES

2. Too groovy. There are just a handful of downsides about moving away from Provo. One of the worst? No more dance parties :(((
5. I don't know what it is, but most movies I watch on an airplane secure a special place in my heart. Back in 2007, I was flying home from Nepal when I watched "Jane Austen Book Club". Maybe I was initially just suffering from one of these reactions. But guys. This is one of my fave movies now. Even when I'm not flying. I can watch it a million times.
6. Love this groovy Chilean singer. Listen to all his songs. Especially "Tormenta".
7. Saw Perfume Genius last month. He truly lives up to his name. Listen to all his songs and see all his shows and for heaven's sake buy that "feminem" t-shirt while you're at the show cause it's the only place you can get them and I totally regret not buying one :(((
9. Jeremy showed me this song. Wish I had gone to the show at Diabolical when they came through!
10. I was able to see Patrick Park back in May, all on my lonesome. You probably remember him from this track and the OC. His music reminds me of driving through forests and red rock country in Northern Arizona while working at Jacob Lake. The sweetest thing. Kilby Court was maybe a third full. He talked about one of his recent shows where a girl complimented him on his cover of "Something Pretty". Poor guy.
11. Thanks to Ingrid for sending me a link to this Tiny Desk Concert! Great discovery.

13. "My life is falling apart
or is it getting better?
I don't know."

Thursday Verse: "Still I Rise" - Maya Angelou

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind the nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

- Maya Anglou

Music for your Midweek: The Rolling Stones - "Play With Fire"

I have to warn you, once you start watching these old videos, it's pretty hard to stop. Thought I would post this one again in case you missed it the first time.

A gem from the Rolling Stones, 1965.



Love the car, love the choreographed head movements, love the girls far-off screams in the background. Flawless