Somewhere only we know

Oh Keane. How we have waited. It was 2006 and we had tickets in hand ready to see Keane perform at the Greek theater in Berkeley. Then word came that their whole US tour had been cancelled due to the singer going into rehab. Boo to that.

So to us Keane came to be known as the concert we never saw. We always felt like we had missed out on something. Like not going to prom (although I did go to prom).

Fast forward to this week. Keane. In town. At the Warfield. Me and He. There.

So so good.

First the Warfield is such a beautiful place, the outside not so beautiful, but once inside you wish the walls could talk. So many musicians have played there before.

So then THEY are there and the piano begins and it's here, the moment is here and it makes me smile because everything sounds just right.

They played new stuff from their latest album, Strangeland, which has grown on me (Disconnected). All of my favorites however are from their Hopes and Dreams album (Bedshaped, Somewhere Only We Know, Everybody's Changing).
Songs I had belted alone in my car were now being belted out by the entire audience, along with Keane, and all was right with the world.

In closing, go see a concert. Go see live music. Get your body moving. Get your voice singing. Feel at one with hundreds of people. It'll make you feel alive and who doesn't want to feel alive.

Number 33 of 40 by 40 checked off the list. Thank you Keane! It was such a good show. I adore your voice, I loved the piano and you all kinda rock. keanemusic.com

View this setlist | More Keane setlists

New Mexico and Me

Over the Christmas holiday, while we were in Texas, we ventured 45 minutes to visit the town of Old Mesilla, New Mexico. We drove through cotton fields and pecan groves to get to this tiny town where Billy the Kid once lived.

At the center of town is the Basilica of San Albino.

The town square is filled with shops that have a southwestern/new mexican/native american and mexican influence. I especially liked the shop that had the gorgeous rugs with the amazing prints. A few shops had walls and walls of crosses.

For lunch/dinner I recommend heading to La Posta de Mesilla Restaurant, Cantina & Chile Shop. It's more than just a restaurant. Inside there is a chile shop and jewelry shop. In their lobby there are exotic live birds and a couple of large fish aquariums. They've got great chips and salsa and thier margaritas are pretty tasty too.

This is a jem of a little town. I say visit it if you ever get the chance.

Fall Love

Looking back at fall on this first day of winter.

Fall is pretty great right?

12.12.12 Time Capsule

When I heard Xanthe was inviting folks who had taken her Time Capsule class to document their day on 12.12.12 I was immediately interested.

The top goal on my 40 before 40 list is to document a "day in the life". I have seen versions of this in the past so lovely and inspiring that I knew I wanted to spend a day shooting our "everyday" this year.

Unfortunately 12.12.12 was on a Wednesday (booo) which wasn't what I had envisioned as part of the master plan. Wednesday means school and work and not so much play (although there was evidence of a little play). It's a week day, where life is routine and dare I say not overly exciting. That said, this was opportunity staring me straight in the face, with a community who was going to be doing what I had already set out to do! So while I still plan on shooting the weekend version (picture relaxed waking, big breakfast, hair done, non-work clothes, play, balloons, color, fun and more fun, etc.) this is actually a very true capsule of where we are now. The real us now.

On 12.12.12 you'll find bits and pieces of us at school, at work, at grandma's house for dinner and at home reading before bed.

12.12.12 - a day in the life from Smallroots on Vimeo.

Thank you Xanthe for this push. Thanks also goes to my Mother-in-Law who pointed out after dinner that my son was wearing a numbered 12 shirt (hello clueless mom here. although I think my subconscious knew what it was doing). It was this discovery that led to the fabulous 12.12.12 dance-a-thon. Maybe the best highlight of the day.
12.12.12.

12.12.12

Take a million photos and video on 12.12.12? Why not?! 12.12.12 happens only every 100 years. If there was a day to document this was the day.

I was inspired by Xanthe Berkeley to document this special day by creating a time capsule. A capsule which would contain photos and video of my day. The WHOLE day, from start to finish.
So I'll be working on the capsule over the next few days, weeks, years. Stay tuned...

more scenes from the city

The start

My celebratory night out started with the amazing view above. Imagine getting ready with a backdrop like that.
It definitely set the tone for the magical night that was waiting for me.

Sweet City

Cross number 32 off of the 40 by 40 list: Spend a night in San Francisco.

I always knew I was going to leave the city. I had lived there for about 8 years and it was my home. However I knew I couldn't live it up forever and that one day I would move away to plant firm roots somewhere else. The time came and I left the fog horns, the hills, the no parking (boo) and the nightlife (food, cafes and bars for days!) to move to a small town in the East Bay.

I love my home now (we can talk about that love another time) however I still miss the city. I miss the unknown that it brought every day. I miss the sights and sounds. The energy. So for my birthday I knew a city getaway would be the perfect treat.













Next up, the twinkle of the city at night...

40 by 40

Because I love a project. Because 40 is a big number. Because there are many firsts I still have yet to complete. Here is my 40 before 40. I have one year to check these off. No pressure. It's all fun and I'm looking forward to each and every one.

1. Shoot a day in the life
2. Bake a pie (from scratch)
3. Go camping
4. Live in a house with a garage and backyard
5. Photowalks (more. yes. please.)
6. Get to know Lightroom
7. Take a class 1/8 - 52 weeks of now you!
8. Invest in a new lens
9. Update my website
10. Get a facial
11. Do 40 consecutive push ups
12. Clean out my closet, no messing around!
13. Cook a turkey
14. Print out and frame my photos
15. Create garland/banner/bunting
16. Buy artwork and hang
17. Go to food truck meeting Done and yum!
18. Backyard (or patio in my case) party
19. Watch Casablanca (this will be a first)
20. Picnic fo reals
21. Go to the drive-in
22. Balloon photo shoot (it's going to be good)
23. Learn guitar or ukelele. 1/6 - Taking ukelele classes now!
24. Date night once a month
25. Family photo
26. Take 20 portraits
27. Grafitti (if it's tasteful is it still illegal?)
28. A day of spreading happiness
29. Visit the http://www.cabazondinosaurs.com/
30. Spend time in Tahoe
31. Interview my parents (nothing heavy BTW)
32. Spend a night in San FranciscoSee here, here and here
33. ConcertSaw Keane at the Warfield read more
34. Pay for the person behind me in line.
35. Bake and deliver to friends and neighbors.
36. Athletic event (Giants/A’s/Warriors/Raiders/etc) 4/19 Giants vs Padres
37. Make a loaf of bread from scratch.
38. Do 5 pinterest projects (why pin if you don't do?)
39. Color run http://thecolorrun.com/
40. Sunrise photoshoot

Sending Love

Wrapped and ready to go. Sending love from across the miles to a very special person on her birthday today.