"That's a Man" Jack Ingram

I've spent the evening listening and downloading country music. My Aunt in Kansas wrote me a card for my birthday with an itunes giftcard inside that I received today. Sometimes its much better to get gifts a month or later after your birthday, because that's when you least expect them. I believe in that... giving gifts not when its required or during the conventional times, but when you least expect it. The act of someone thinking of you when they don't have to seems to make things feel a lot more special.

One day, I hope to get flowers from a boy when I least expect it. I've actually never gotten flowers from anyone male besides my father or a prom date's corsage which seems a little past due since I've been in and out of relationships since I was 15.

Anyway, the reason I've been downloading country music is in response to the dissapointing Bob Dylan show Matt and I went to last night in Berkeley. Bob Dylan, an idol, and one of the greatest songwriters of all time was awful. Instead of a solitary lyrics driven performance, he hid behind the big band and werbled words that couldn't be comprehended. Dylan, in his Zoro hat, was completly unrecognizable and his geeky charm was masqued by his ill fitting, silver- striped black "trying far too hard to be cool" pants. Dylan, who once won the world's youth with his poignant lyrics and his guy next door flannel charm is officially no longer able to perform. Today's country music, is probably the closest thing our generation has to those who emerged in 60's and 70's rock and roll. The songs speak to the common person, with ballads and allegorys that speak to something more than parties, sex and the superficial.