it's september first.

and i'm already breathing a bit easier.

even if life feels peculiar and a little difficult right now, i'm still breathing just a bit easier.

i was born into the fall. made for this time of the year.

and so i'm soaking it all up.

open windows and some very good (and eclectic tunes) on the record player.

(actually speaking of record players, must remember to add one of those to the birthday/christmas wish list).

the lumineers: the mercury lounge, august 30.

such a good, lovely, lovely evening. his voice really is something else. it lives in that space between--you know the space... that special space that literally reaches out, grabs you by the innards and hoists you up. yup, that space.

have i ever told you how i think rain is holy? well, i do.

among other things i bow down to today: this song, the band, portugal. the man, those sunglasses, and (how all men who play music are unequivocally good looking--it's like tennis players. they are all very attractive. how is that?).

lollapalooza playlist

my parents send me clippings from the newspaper if they think it'll strike my fancy (or if they think it's something i should know). recently the new york times did an article on beirut and zach condon, asking him about his influences and what inspires him. he spoke about attempting to find a clarity of vision--of how when something means more it's a bit more terrifying to put out there--to really reveal yourself. 

but what really got me, what really made me laugh out loud on the subway was when the interviewer asked: is your band dressing better? (zach had just referenced chico buarque and how he used to dress up impeccably each evening and how he himself was trying to adopt some of that attitude). 

zach responded: i'm trying to force them all to wear suit jackets. i'm sick of seeing 30-year-old men in new york look like toddlers, wearing sweatpants and flip-flops. 

me too, zach, me too. there is nothing quite like a man who can wear a suit really well. 

now a full week after my lollapalooza adventure, i offer you just a small smattering of some of my favorite songs of the festival...