So I’ve been listening to a LOT of music lately which just goes hand in hand with bad breakups. It’s super cliche! But for a reason. It helps. I guess.

Anyway, the point is that I’ve rediscovered some old music I haven’t listened to in a million years or so, give or take a decade. Most of it is stuff from well-known artists or at least artists with major record labels. But a few songs are by people I know, personally. Back when the world was different and I ran witha different crowd, I was surrounded by artists. My friends were all into music or art in some form or another. None of them ever became well-known or rich and famous, but they were still talented. When one of their songs pops up I think about them and memories just wash over me. It takes feel good music to a whole new level.

I’ve lost touch with all of these people over the years. Something I thought would never happen at the time, I’m sure. I wonder about them when I hear their songs. One moved on to Nashville, I know. But I wonder if he is still there. The other, I think, moved back to Canada, but I can’t be sure. Doesn’t matter anyway, I wouldn’t reach out to them even if I knew how. That’s a long time gone from where I am right now and I don’t need or want to go back again.

Still, when their music comes up it makes me smile and it makes me wistful and besides evoking those personal memories, they’re just good music. The lyrics are thoughtful and well-written. The music is mellow and just right. It makes me proud to have known them at one time. And I wonder if they realize it? It kind of makes me sad to think about how good their music makes me feel and they will never know. Neither of them hit it big like they thought they would and isn’t that always the way? I’m sure they are probably respectable adults with “regular” jobs now. I’m sure they have 2.5 kids and a mortgage. I’m sure they grew up. I hope they are happy and content in their new lives and I hope they don’t regret the choices they made. I just wish I could let them know how much their music meant to me and still means to me and I want them to know that they made a lasting difference and mark on someone’s life.

I was super excited to get one, but was also afraid I wouldn’t like it and then I’d be stuck with this gadget that amounted to nothing more than a paperweight in the end.

I love books, but my reading has really fallen off lately. Since I got the Kindle on Christmas morning I have read three books. Yeah. THREE. In five days.

This is going to sound like a commercial for the Kindle, but I don’t care. It’s super portable, it’s got a heckuva long battery life, it does everything. I can search the web, listen to Mp3s, play games and, of course, read books. I can download books in sixty seconds. From anywhere. I can either buy them from the Amazon store, or choose one of hundreds of their free book downloads. I can download them from other places for free, like here, here, or here. Because Amazon bought out Audible I can listen to my audiobooks and organize them and — I’m hyperventilatin’ y’all!

Anyway, I love it. I still love books and I’ll still continue to collect them and the Kindle will never, ever, ever, never take their place — but if you’re on the fence about owning one yourself, I’d highly recommend it. They’re affordable and versatile and practical and awesome. Thhaaaannnk you, Yeti. <3

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and best wishes to you all for a terrific 2011!

She’s got a Patsy Cline quality to her voice that just freakin’ amazes me, coming out of that tiny little thing. Take a listen, then buy her albums. Somebody has to support these guys who don’t rely heavily on auto-tune, but actual talent instead.