Collective Soul

"I hope when I'm that age I'm still going to concerts!"
- Me, 15 years ago.

On Thursday my husband and I drove into downtown DC for a concert at the 9:30 Club. I was feeling a little out of my element. The last time I saw a show there was over 10 years ago. Were we going to be the oldest ones there? Was I dressed right? Were we going to get looks all night? etc...

Only Collective Soul could have lured me into a club in the city for a show. I've been seeing them play live since I was in college (over a decage ago!), and every time I see them I fall in love all over again. The band brings so much energy! And they have a way of making you feel like not only are you part of the best audience they've ever played for, they're playing for you personally.

I love it when a band smiles a lot at the crowd!

Collective Soul isn't cocky or vain, they don't act like we're lucky to see them play or they're tired of playing the same songs. It's more like a big sing-along with a bunch of friends. I am pretty sure they treat each show and each crowd like it's the best night of the whole tour for them.

Nothing else measures up to a Collective Soul concert. If you get a chance to see them, do it!

If you don't know who they are, check out these songs. Sound familiar? I know you know them. :)

Shine - Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid
The World I Know - Self titled
December - Self titled
Listen - Disciplined Breakdown
Heavy - Dosage

If you like those, try a few of these too:

Gel - Self titled
Skin - Blender
Better Now - Youth
Disciplined Breakdown - Disciplined Breakdown
Tremble for my Beloved - Dosage (also in the Twilight soundtrack)
Energy - 7year Itch (greatest hits)
All That I Know - Afterwords

Although I went to the concert feeling a little old, I left feeling young again. I am "that age and still going to concerts."

And I'm so glad.
First photo found via google images is HERE
Collective Soul tour dates HERE

Summer Fun

Well, the bad news is my camera is broken. This explains why I haven't been blogging lately. I didn't realize it, but it turns out the photos are a big part of what drives the writing for me.

We've been having a great summer though. We had a fun trip to visit my sister and her family in St. Louis for the 4th of July. They are great hosts and it was wonderful to see them and let the cousins play together.

I quit/was laid off from work at the end of July, so I've had a few weeks home with the kids and am slowly adjusting. I started teaching piano lessons and doing other things to try to make some money on the side and I think we're going to be fine, so no worries about us.

I also decided to homeschool Olivia instead of sending her to kindergarten this year, so making plans for that has been a lot of fun and she is very excited too. For our curriculum I'm trying to have a Charlotte Mason philosophy, but using Sonlight and Math-U-See as back-up. I'm sure I'll have a lot more to add on these subjects as the year goes on.

Alexander is talking up a storm now, though I suspect most of his words are only understandable by people that know him pretty well. We've had a lot of opportunities to do fun activities with friends, like playing in the Shenandoah River.

Xander's favorite part was throwing rocks.

If anyone has any camera suggestions I'd love to hear them. Our primary needs are something that takes good video, and does above average in low-light. Someday I think an SLR camera would be fun, but for now I've got enough hobbies and projects, so a straightforward camera is what I'm looking for.

Check back soon to read about what happens when I cut sugar out of the kids' diets. :)