Ira Glass

Last night we saw the one and only Ira Glass. He's the creator and host of NPR, This American Life. It's the number on podcast in the nation and it's FREE. If you have iTunes, download it and listen to it faithfully, you won't be sorry. I love to save up episodes so I can listen to them on long drives and when I'm doing some busy work around the house. I feel enlightened and touched by the stories they share. I also love this man's voice. It's totally appropriate for the radio.

The show begins with the lights going out as Ira enters on stage. The only thing you can see is the iPad that he is carrying and once he places it on a stand you can barely see the contours of his face. He talks into the microphone and I feel like I am listening to yet another episode of This American Life. It's him, it's his voice, every muscle in my body is tensed up because of the built up excitement of this moment in my life. I'm sitting at the edge of my seat listening to this voice in the darkness. Eventually the lights come on and I see the very face that the voice belongs to. It's a bit surreal because I have created my own image of what Ira Glass looks like-- it's almost like meeting a character from a book or seeing a character from a book in the movies, there's disparity in what you thought the character looked like to what is being presented to you.

Ira Glass is BRILLIANT. In short, I was in love.

I also couldn't help to think of something that Aline and I have been talking a lot about recently, and that's living up to your passions. The most effective people out there are those that are living up to their passions. They're not just doing things that they're interested in doing, they're living The Dream. When I meet people like this I can't help but feel inspired and want to be more than I already am. Ira is an example of someone who is living The Dream.

Dear Ira Glass,

You're amazing! Thanks for coming to Salt Lake.

Sincerely,

Rhiannon

Ps. I love you voice!

"Hazzah", I say "Hazzah!"

Tomorrow will be the official half way point to my grad program. One more year to go! Sometimes I can't even believe I am doing this. I'd have to thank Matt for him making me do it. He knew I wanted to do it eventually and I told him that "one day..." I was going to get my Masters, and he made sure that "one day" was sooner than later. It would be a lie if I didn't tell you I'm really glad he made me do it, maybe more on some days than others. ;) I'm grateful, thanks Matt.

Since it's the end of May I've had a class every night from 430 to 7, (it was awful while teaching!) and tomorrow the summer semester will be over and I will be finally alone, free, available, liberated, at peace... to work on my own list of "To Do!" Yes, I have already committed (I sell Italian Ice!) to doing a few things, but I feel like you need some type of commitment in your schedule. You can promise yourself that tomorrow at 7pm MST, I'll be grinning from ear to ear. "Hazzah" I say, "Hazzah!"

Gardening

Last Saturday we set out on little adventure that was suppose to be a 4 hour thing but ended up going for 12 hours. I've made an event list for you. :)

1. Start at 1045 digging up the sod.

2. Find millions of little pebbles under the sod, making digging almost impossible.

3. Rent a bobcat, that will dig a hole for us!

Matt loves this part!

4. Break a sprinkler with the bobcat.

5. Go to the city dump to get rid of the sod we dug up and picked up a truck load of compost.

6. Dig up sprinkler trenches because they're too close to the surface (hence the reason why we broke it.)

7. Buy new sprinkler parts.

8. Dig out more rocks before we lay down the new compost.

9. Unload the truck.

Much harder than it looks.

10. Wash out the truck.

11. Project completion.... 1045pm 

12. Decide to put in plants another day.

This is what it looked like today!

We are still thinking about what else to add.

Support Local Artists!

Bianca Merkley

I worked with her a couple of summers ago at Brighton Girls Camp. I think she's a pretty awesome person and... has a pretty talented voice. Click here if you would like to listen to one of her newest songs (it's a free download too!) She's trying to raise money for her 2nd album. We should support the local artists! If you think she's good enough to support, pledge a dollar to her cause Click here to donate.