Randomness in the Bleak Midwinter

Well, it's flippin cold in the Czech Republic. Days this cold require good music.

CDs I'm listening to:

1. Patty Griffin - Impossible Dream

Patty Griffin is like Vicks VapoRub for the soul. For real. The woman is incapable of writing a bad song.

2. Ray LaMontagne - Trouble

My recently engaged friend Joe Haack has been a recommender of good music for as long as I have known him. (Is recommender a real word? I'm an English teacher, I should know this...) Occasionally he stumbles into ruts with artists like Joseph Arthur and Belle and Sebastian, but I won't hold those against him. Two weeks ago, Joe shoots me an email and tells me about brother Ray. The guy sounds like a 50 year old black woman... but he's really good. Thanks Joe.

3. Eggnoise - What a World

They're a Czech band I had the privelege of opening for a few weeks back. Lots of fun. Mostly in English. Oh, and there's like 12 guys in the band. Think Harry Connick meets Billy Joel and Brian Setzer... and then they all start speaking Czech.

My mailbox has been empty lately. Feel free to fill it with good new music from home. iTunes Music Store is only great if you know what you're looking for... and most Czech radio consists of American hits from the 1980's. No seriously, you'd think Tiffany and Genesis were making a comeback. Feel free to post comments. Miss you guys.

Spent a week in Paris with a whole bunch of long-lost Miami friends. It was really good to spend some time with folks who have known me longer than 5 months. Here you see Aaron French, Ryan Hawkins, Sara Treece, Brit Lenhoff, Me, and Sarah Toth standing at the Louvre.

Brit, Sara, Ryan and I in Montmartre. Probably my favorite spot in Paris. It's the way you picture Paris in your head... cafes, alleys, crepes, and guys peddling friendship bracelets for 5 euro a piece...huh?

Look for this exact location in Ocean's 12. Matt Damon... Mike Harvey... Who can tell the difference, honestly?