Conn Creek’s Premier Napa Valley Party

Paul’s a master party thrower.
He knows what the people want, he delivers.
At this year’s Premier Party, there was an old Hollywood band, perfect lamb chops and a really tasty barrel lot for the sampling.

My friends came in from all over the country for a little professional/personal collaboration.
(I got really, really sick the next day.)

Now THAT was a foxy old Hollywood band, with the sexytime lead singers.

A red carpet between the tanks?
Yes, I’ll walk down that red carpet, with a little better posture.
And a little more swagger.

Wine between the wine between the vines.

Gorgeous party, Paul.
You know how to make us feel special

Meal plan, this week.

Oh man, I went from really sick to really really sick.
This flu that has turned to strep has turned into a really bad strep has turned into an emergency room visit and a super duper, wowie zowie serious infection.

Life, with your bigger lessons.
You make me sigh.
Except sighing hurts.

(I have a feeling that this week’s meal plan is going to turn into a lot of blended soups.)

What’s your favorite sore throat food?

Guitar Zero, Indeed

Guitar Zero Book Cover James bought me a guitar ten years ago for my birthday.

TEN YEARS AGO.
And, (embarassedface) I still haven’t learned how to play.

I love to listen to guitar, playing is on my life list, it just hasn’t been a priority. SO MANY OTHER PRIORITIES.

So when I had the chance to read Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning, about a guy who decided to master guitar at, um, very close to my age, I expected to find some inspiration and tips for FINALLY learning the guitar this “late” in my life.

What I didn’t expect, was all the other learning.
There was research contradicting some recent pop psychological “facts.”
There was research on raising small brains into a musical practice.
There was inspiration for simply working at a craft.

Written by Gary Marcus, professor of psychology and director of the NYU Center for Language And Music (CLAM!!!), an expert in evolution, language, and cognitive development, it takes more time to get through than you expect, but will educate you a little more about brain functionality and music history.

Musical skill comes from all over your brain, your genetic makeup, your focus and your ability to practice. It’s something that makes us uniquely human. It’s something that’s virtually free, fun to try and helps you be better at all kind of other things in your life.

I want more of it.
(And I want to make James proud.)

Taking inspiration from Maggie’s book reviews, some excerpts:

“In the few direct comparisons of “procedural” learning in children and college-aged adults, adults actually tend to be quicker learners than children.”

“There is ample evidence… that individual variation in genes affects memory efficiency (vital, obviously, in learning songs). Variation in other genes can modulate curiosity (which can mediate how much effort people put into learning music), and still a third modulates sensitivity to absolute pitch.”

“People who score high on openness, for example, tend to like music that is reflective and complex, while extroverts have a greater tendency than introverts to like music that is engertic and rhythmic.”

“If I had to sum up human music for intergalactic travelers in a single concise phrase, it might be this: “Repetition, with variation.”

Thoroughly enjoyable, this book made me smarter about raising little musicians as well as picking up an axe myself. (People still say axe, right?). Jury’s still out on whether I’ll find some of Gary’s commitment, but at least I know it’s possible.

Do you have any tips for me as I consider picking up a guitar?

Friday love

I get my Nora Lea.
Her sensitivities and habits.

Her stories, food-related particularities, her hair.

Butterscotch hair..
Asymmetrical,
Bangs,
Ponytails and headbands.

Growing out since she took a scissors to it in October (5 month’s ago!).

As a lady interested in aesthetics, it’s a hoot to anticipate yours.

Can’t wait.

Influenza Influenced

I’m quite sure there’s nothing more boring than listening to someone go on and on about how sick they are. But there I am.

Go wash your hands,
drink your water and
avoid snot-nosed toddlers because
I have not been flat dead sick for six days straight in a decade.
(It’s every bit as awful as I remembered.)

I guess the good news is that I’m off anything illegal,
dairy, wheat and booze,
because it just all sounds gross.

Oranges and kale juice? Sign me up!
(Thank you influenza for that charming legacy.)

The worst part of this flu was not the coughing, congestion, headaches, fever, intestinal distress, full body rash or crusty eyes, no, it was the inability to multitask.
Hell, the inability to task.

See, I don’t really sit still at home, my fingers are always moving. My eyes, reading, my ears, listening.

I stuff envelopes while listening to an audio book and reviewing blog posts.
I type emails while watching television and evaluating podcasts.
I constantly consume and produce.

And this week, I have been able to neither consume nor produce.

I have just stayed in one place,
not even staring at anything,
just being sick.

My responsible Midwestern work ethic shrieks,
YOU ARE SO NOT WORKING ON ANYTHING RIGHT NOW!

I tried to silence it.
(I’m trying to get better, Midwestern work ethic, hush, you.)
But still, it hollers.

So I’m getting back to you.
Tomorrow.
When I’m better.
Because damnit, I’ll be better by tomorrow.
I have to be.

P.S. Mom update: Last night, her blood pressure spiked, she felt like she was having another stroke, there was another emergency room visit. Alls well by today, but damn, as a fellow sufferer of super-high blood pressure, it freaks me out a little. I thought this was over already. Thanks so much for your good vibes. They mean the world to us.