5 months and counting...

The guy I'm sharing this computer room with is doing all of the following:
Sneezing.
Coughing.
Tapping his foot to some unheard beat.
Biting his fingernails so loudly I can HEAR it.
Eating an ice cream cone smack by smack.
Watching a japanese movie.
Saying, what I'm assuming is "hello?" in japanese over and over and over on his phone to someone who is obviously just not on the line.

I, Christi Rabb, desperately need my own internet connection in my own house for my own computer.

Anywho.

Today's been a good day. I slept in til ten, and was woken up by Sydney meowing outside my door. Oh well, I don't like sleeping in past ten anyways. Let me share with you a cute picture I took of Syd as she made herself at home on my knee the other day. (SWEET. Frustrating noise maker computer room roomie just left. Insert sigh of serenity here.)



Yep, that's her, in all her glory. Don't let the cute face fool you, if she ever looks at you like that, she's probably thinking about how scrumptious your wrist looks.

So, guess what? The 2008 ACL lineup is here. Oh yes. Let me tell you a little about my ACL insane blessings this year. I have attended the Austin City Limits festival for what will be my third year in a row. My first year, I worked at one of the bars and got paid 20 bucks an hour to handle all the cash and listen to the music at the stages that were near my bar. I fell in love with all things ACL and set out to buy my own ticket the following year (last year) so I could be free of having a job to do, and just soak up all the ACLness. After recovering from the smoltering sun, sweat and singers and swearing I'd never go back again... I definitely plan on going again this year. Yes, it will be mind blowingly hot again- but I do not care! I might actually have the chance to obtain a VIP pass this year (working at Rudys over the past three years has definitely added some perks) which means free everything. Yes please!

So, back to the line up. I'm searching through it (it was just added today, I believe) and here are a few that I'm super stoked to be able to see this year:
Alison Krauss
Beck
The Swell Season (<---the singers from "Once"!!!!)
Gnarles Barkley
Iron and Wine
Patty Griffin
Flyleaf
Those are just a few from the huge lineup that has been emailed to me. If you are interested go to the ACL Websiteand check out all the bands yourself. I'm pumped. I even love listening to the bands I've never heard of.

If you have never been and don't really know what ACL looks like, let me just give you this little shot to give you an idea how many people are there...



Whew.

My favorite moment of ACL last year was definitely when the band Ghostland Observatory took the stage. I had first heard them the year I was working at the bar, and they happened to be on the stage right next to me. I hadn't really discovered electronica type music yet, but I definitely fell IN LOVE with them. Everyone working at the bar I was at was like "who is that?? what are they playing?? that's freakin awesome!" to say the least. I later discovered it was Ghostland, and they definitely took the entire festival by storm. The next year (last year) they were on one of the smaller stages (really, what were the organizers thinking??) and I got there kind of early because I was so excited to see them, but I turned around after about 20 minutes of sitting in the grass waiting for them to start, and I literally could not see the end of the masses of people. I doubt anyone else was at any other stage. It was the hugest crowd I'd ever seen. I THINK the picture I have up there is from the beginning of the masses coming to see them perform, but I'm not sure. It doesn't look like enough people to me. But wow, it was an amazing show. It's definitely insanely unique music topped off with even more insane dance moves. The band is composed of two guys. Yep, just two guys. And they're awesome.

I'm also extremely excited about The Swell Season which is definitely on the other end of the spectrum of music from Ghostland. These are the singers from one of my favorite movies I've ever seen called Once. He (GLEN HANSARD)captivated me with his raw, acoustic feel from the very first scene of the movie. I got to see him at Stubbs this past year and loved him and his costar (MARKETA IRGLOVA) even more than I had before. He is from Ireland and I believe she is from Poland or something like that, I can't remember. His music is very indie sounding and that fits itself easily into the heart of the music I love.

5 months til it all happens:)

Alright, well I hope that appealed to your musical side a little but. I must be off now-- work in an hour and a half. Come visit me if you are near Rudy's on 620 sometime this evening! I will be working in the Country Store so it's much easier to say hello and chat a little versus when I'm over working BBQ.

Ta ta
Christi