New Vibration

I am THRILLED to share that 'Don't Panic' STUCK! I practiced my booty off and it all came together rather nicely! I get to work on my pick/muting, though. I mute just fine, but when it comes to picking during, I still sound a little awkward. (Why you ask? Don't know-all I know is THAT is what the damn problem was a couple of weeks ago. I just wasn't getting it...)

I'm working on 'New Vibration' by Collective Soul this week (and have earned 'Phasination Phase' by Carter Burwell as a reward of sorts. B said that I could have it as soon as it's written up...). As far as NV goes, I've got it on repeat now-to kind of pound it in. B called earlier tonight to see how it was coming, "You get that the chorus is minor pentatonic box 1, right?" "...Yeah..."

Haha...

I'm not sure exactly WHAT clicked with me, but I'm glad it did. I've had many talks with MANY people about my struggles and what seems to come insanely natural to me (but not usually to other beginners...) and have come to the conclusion that Guitar is an avenue for MANY life lessons. Interesting...

Anyway, I found out tonight that T.R.A.S.H. Book Club is set for next Tuesday-March 3rd! I'm excited! I haven't seen the T.R.A.S.H.ers since our Hopper's experience a couple of weeks ago AND we get to share our cupcakes! PERFECT for K the Older's birthday!

Tonight I took a new picture for the Book Club blog:

It includes ALL of the T.R.A.S.H. selections up to date, as well as a whole stash of my personal favorites (along with a few other fun things tucked in)!

I'm off now to read the book I'm currently in the middle of: The Serpents Tale by Arianna Franklin, finish practicing AND have a bath...

Here's to all things Dutch (that was a Christmas Toast from Cary Brothers that I LOVED-and it stuck) and to a PERFECT Friday filled with Paul Klee painting, a trip to Miss Greene's and Miss Dansie's STORE and quite possibly some cake in a cup...

-I love dragonflies...

j

V-Day

Lucky for me, I got to spend a good chunk of my Valentines Day at Guitar! I was more than a little apprehensive to walk in this week because of the ABSOLUTE mess I was last week...

See, I've been learning The Sound of Silence-Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades version-for a couple of weeks and for some reason, I had NOT been able to get the strumming pattern and palm muting down! I was extremely hard on myself and allowed myself to get STUCK. Truth be told, I was thinking too much, too hard about what I was supposed to do and not subcoming to the "creative process" of the music. Once I let that go...it was a different story.

The R&R rainboots in The Jon Dansie Band studio with bassit Floyd Kunz (his boots are yummy...)

So, on Saturday I donned my Rock & Roll rainboots, sucked it up and flew to guitar. While it wasn't perfect, I did well! With a sigh of relief and one eye closed I looked at B-who was smiling-for conformation that I wasn't the gangly teenaged boy I felt like. He was pleased...

He then presented me with a challenge: "I've learned one of the songs (Phasination Phase-Carter Burwell) you want to play. It's fun, slow and is ALL finger picking. I would also like to see you learn Don't Panic (Coldplay) because it's full of odd chords and HARD strumming patterns. Which one is it?" I never thought that I would be confronted with such an inner battle at guitar: Do I go with PP because while it won't be SUPER easy, I'm comfortable with finger picking (I actually prefer it over using a pick). Or...do I go with DP because I need to PUSH myself, to move past the hang-ups? I shared that inner dialog with B. He smiled and said, "I know your choice, then..." and began to write up Don't Panic.

With a small voice I said, "bring it on"...still not convinced...

B just smiled again, "Don't Panic" he said, laughing at his joke.

After a successful lesson, I rewarded myself with a HUGE peanut butter cookie and an IBC Cream Soda from Hungry Bear (how lucky am I that there is a HB RIGHT across the parking lot from The Acoustic Musician?!!!) and went home.

Later that night-after a 3 hour nap-I woke up to find my house full of friends and family. As a group we decided to NOT get sucked in the V-Day trap and stay home and have...NACHOS! Julie built the LARGEST tray of nachos anyone at the table has ever seen-then we topped them off with olives, artichoke hearts, chunky salsa, hummus, and jalapenos. It was perfect...

We decided to prolong V-Day and have Floyd and Julie come over on Sunday for ice cream-and another dinner. This time B and Andrea came to join us. (Thanks guys!) Andrea and I figured out how to make "One at a Time" cakes out of No Pudge brownie mix, a spoonful of plain yogurt and a little vanilla! They were amazing (and fat free! Yay!)!

I love that ALL of my parties and holidays are filled with amazing friends and family, great music, tasty food and late nights! I am so grateful for everyone sharing these experiences with me!

X

j

*Sgt. Pepper's*

This is ANOTHER one that I did for Facebook. I LOVED it! These are new answers JUST for the blog.

******
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the NEXT button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? Hole in the Sun-Night Ranger
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? A Day-STYX
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Dance Tonight-Paul McCartney (I don't dance...)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? The Fallen-Franz Ferdinand
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Rock and Roll All Nite-KISS (LOVE IT!!!)
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Nights Like This-Paul Rogers
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN? Wait-The Beatles
WHAT IS 2+2? No No No-Paulo Nutini
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? All of My Love-Led Zeppelin
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Goin' Crazy-David Lee Roth
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?? I Thank You-ZZ Top
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?? Everybody's Broken-Bon Jovi (That's kind of sad...)
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Bless the Broken Road-Rascal Flatts
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Angel Dream No.2-Tom Petty (PERFECT!!!!)
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Doctor Robert-The Beatles
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Lonelily-Damien Rice
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Heaven Knows-The Grass Roots
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Father O.S.A.-STYX
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? I Got the Blues-Brother Yussef (I saw this one live in Downtown Disney-You NEED to see Brother Yussef live! HE'S FABULOUS!!!!)
HOW WILL YOU DIE? Stuck With Me-Green Day
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? Room Service-KISS
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Llorona-DeVotchKa
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY Come and Go Blues-The Allman Brothers
WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? Who I Am-Tommy Shaw
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? Finally Forever-Chris Cornell
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? Deuces Are Wild-Aerosmith
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? The Real Story-David Holmes
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? Que Reste T'il de nos Amours?-Charles Trénet (Roughly translated, "What remains of our love?")
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)-The Beatles

42 MORE...

Here's one more I did for Facebook!
Surprised?


1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yep! (Dad) Jon + (Mom) Michelle = Jonelle
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Today at the dancing assembly watching David.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yep!
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? NONE!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Really?
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Nope...
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? NO!!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? That one kind I had in Amsterdam...
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not usually
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Pink Peppermint from Leatherby's
13. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their eyes
14. RED OR PINK? RED!
15. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORlTE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I am WAY too hard on myself!
16. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Depends on the day. Right now? WP.
17. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Why is this ALWAYS one of the questions?!
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue pants-no shoes.
19. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Dad
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? 'Shopping For Blood'-Franz Ferdinand
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? The dark red one...
22. FAVORITE SMELLS? my perfume-VS 'Very Sexy', Henri Bendel's 'Firewood', dirt, and wet earth after a long rain.
23. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Love you, Mommy!
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Do concerts count?
25. HAIR COLOR? Bottle black with VERY light blood roots. (no now, though...I just had it done.)
26. EYE COLOR? Blue...green...
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
28. FAVORITE FOOD? NACHOS! Anything Chinese, Japanese, or Thai. Fresh fruit.
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? SCARY MOVIES!!!!!!
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? He's Just Not That Into You...in a sold out theater on opening day with great friends!
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Grey
32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Early Summer, before it gets to be TOO hot.
33. HUGS OR KISSES? Who's sharing?
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? A Pirate's Love-by Johanna Lindsay (last month's book club) Cupcakes-by Pamela Clark (This month's book club) and The Serpant's Tale-by Arianna Franklin
35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Big Ben
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? The Grey's Anatomy-Private Practice "Crossover Event"!!
37. FAVORITE SOUND(S) Tommy Shaw, my guitar, Dad's guitar, B's guitar, Jack in the morning (HA!)...
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? BEATLES!!!!
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Apeldoorn-The Netherlands
40. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? SLC, Utah
41. BIG WEEKEND PLANS? Guitar...then possibly something crafty! I LOVE 4 day weekends!42. DOGS OR CATS? BIG dogs! I love my dogs!

25 Random Things About ME!

I'm not going to lie...I have LOVED reading these and was happy to get to fill out my 25 for Facebook last night! It took me about an hour an a half to come up with these... Enjoy! ;)

1-Brugge, Belgium is my favorite place on earth.

2-Amsterdam is a VERY close second and often flips places with Brugge.

3-I have found all 13 gnomes hiding in THE LARGEST DINOSAUR MUSEUM at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. Really.




4-My FAVORITE band is STYX and I've met the guys twice: once backstage at a meet and greet and once by chance at a Virgin Mega Store.






5-I HATE mayo and I freak out if it gets on my hands/face.

6-I can eat sour cream ONLY if it's mixed with something else. If it's JUST sour cream, it gives me the creeps.

7-My hair is bottle BLACK.

8-I LOVE blood oranges.

9-Daniel Craig made me a Bond fan.

10-I have 12 Teen Girl Squad videos saved on my phone.

11-My dream car is an Aston Martin DBS.

12-Right now, "My Moon, My Man" by Feist is my top played song on my iPod-with a count of over 100.

13-I am a PROUD owner of a Tommy Shaw water bottle. He drank from it, bent over and handed it to ME! I then had a taste... I had bruises on my elbows from that concert.

14-I have friends that live in Holland, Japan, Belgium and Sweden, as well as all over the US.

15-The solution to EVERYTHING at my house is to "just rub it out" then go get nachos.

16-Cupcakes are fabulous bits of heaven in one easy to handle, portion controlled nugget.

17-I NEVER follow recipes. My cooking kicks, too... ;)

18-I've been playing guitar since August of '08. (I feel like I should be better at it then I am, though... Guitar is in my blood.)

19-I speak a little Dutch. However, we wouldn't get very far when the extent of my vocab are words for, "cheese", "bike", "missionary", "Sunday", "mine", "fries", and "delicious"...

20-I believe that the Dragonfly is a personal omen. (PLEASE read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho!)

21-I just read the Twilight Saga and LOVED it.
I'm an Edward fan.

22-I once rode to Jackson Hole in a tour bus-pulling a trailor that held our car and all of the band gear. We watched Britney Spears music videos WHILE driving. Thank you, Aaron!

23-I like my meat (when I do eat it) to be very rare or RAW. I love half shell oysters and sushi.

24-I collect rocks and love them best if I find them myself. My favorites came from Arizona and the waterfalls in Oregon.

25-Franz Ferdinand is my newest obsession.