The Best Birthday Present Ever

So, for my birthday this year, (which isn't for another month btw) my daddy gave me the best present ever. He took me to see the Moody Blues at the Austin Music Hall. They have been his favorite band for over 4 decades, so naturally I grew up hearing them. In all honesty, the Moody Blues is the first band I remember hearing in my childhood. I grew up loving their music. Some of my friends may make fun of me for loving a band comprised of men older than my father, but I can't help it. They Rock!

So, Dad and I went to see them on Friday, and I can still hardly contain myself. I had SOOO much fun. The crowd was a very interesting mix of hippies with long hair and tie-dyed shirts, former hippies trying to remember all their old glory, folks who never were hippies and truly regret it now, senior citizens, twenty-somethings, and small children. All with one very important thing in common: Love of the Moody Blues!

The anticipation hung in the air like 40 years of pot smoke. Growing thicker with every breath we took. And then the lights go down, and a disembodied voice says, "Ladies and Gentlemen...The Moody Blues!" They run out on stage (except Graeme, who suffered a knee injury and had to be assisted onto the drummers' platform) and they crowd went absolutely nuts. Honest to God, I had tears in my eyes as the struck up "Lovely to See You Again." I've never experienced that before. You always see girls in the crowd at their favorite rock bands' concerts (picture the Beatles or Led Zeppelin) teary eyed and star struck. That's never been me. Mind you, if I saw either the Beatles, or Led Zeppelin, I would be a friggin mess! But I finally understand what it feels like to be so happy to finally see a band that has meant to much to my life, live and in person. To feel the notes flowing into my soul. To feel my heart beat in time with the music. It was overwhelming.

I cannot put into words how wonderful the evening was, but I will never forget it. And I could not have asked for a more apt companion than my daddy. It means so much to me that we were able to share such a beautiful experience together. Thanks Dad!

Introducing... Me!

Well, here it is. My first attempt at a blog. I don't really think myself interesting enough to write a blog that anyone will actually enjoy reading, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway.

So let me introduce myself. I am a 24-year-old Chef from Austin, TX. I love to cook. Though if you only know me outside of work, you wouldn't know it from first-hand experience. I hardly ever cook at home. I am in the kitchen all day at work. I cook a lot. When I get home, I'm not so much feeling like spending my time in the kitchen. But on occasion I will whip up a great meal for everyone. Which makes me feel good becuase I know they like what I make because they come back every time I say "Hey I'm cooking tonight!"

I also love being outdoors. Camping, hiking, tubing the river, BBQing, hanging at the pool. You name it.

I would love to own my own restaurant someday. I would love to own my own restauarant today. I would if I had the money. Which, of course, I probably never will since I don't know how to save money. I try. I really do, but it just disappears. What can I say?

I've had this realization lately that I want to own a vinyard. I would hire someone to come make the wine, since I don't know how to make them. I sure know how to drink 'em though! But I would open a restaurant on the vinyard. It would be perfect. But, alas, that would take even more money that I don't have. Boo.