Some very good shows lately, I think I've been neglecting to mention them on my blog. Forgive me if I'm repeating myself -- my archives appear unreachable at the moment, so I can't cheat and look back.

Kim Richey a couple of weeks ago. She was good as always. She was accompanied by a bass player and drummer (both of whom looked about 16), and they were good musicians but I think she could have used another guitarist to help fill in some of the more complex songs. She did a pretty good mix of old and new stuff, ah the memories. Kathleen Edwards was the week after that. Very rocking. Even more exciting than the music, perhaps, was the fact that our Birchmere waiter was the same one we had had for the Kim Richey show, and not only did he remember us, but he also remembered what kind of beer we'd ordered then. We gave him a ridiculously large tip for that, but he definitely earned it. Anyway, the Kathleen Edwards show was really good, I hope she comes out with a new album before too terribly long. Perhaps that is too demanding.

Last night was the Jayhawks and the Thorns. Very excellent show. Very awful crowd. Never been surrounded by so many Chatty Cathys in my life. I thought I was gonna have to get in some fights. I don't understand why you'd pay $25 to come to a loud place like the 9:30 Club so you can discuss your lame kids and your lame minivan with your lame friends. I hope those people catch on fire someday soon. The Thorns -- Shawn Mullins, Matthew Sweet and Pete Droge -- were even better live than they are on their album. And Matthew Sweet has the coolest guitars ever. And a mountain dulcimer and a baritone ukelele. The Jayhawks, well I just love them. This show was a little less good than the Birchmere one in April, I think, but that probably had a lot to do with the differences in venue. One bonus of this show, though, was they played TONS of old stuff, so that was cool. Lead singer Gary Louris' hair was just amazing. Amazing. I am considering starting a cult to worship it. He's the guy in the middle photo if you go the Web site I linked above. Join my cult! Gary's hair will be the salvation of us all!

In non-music news ... um, nothing. Work still sucks and I hate it. My friend Jodi had her last day on Wednesday before heading to her new mysterious job with the Washington Post Company. So there goes one of the few remaining good things about my job. Poof. I got smacked down for Student Press Law Center fellowship. Not sure if it confirms my fears about being old, though. The letter did say I'm still an ideal candidate for a fall semester internship. Considering the words "semester" and "internship" kinda vanished from my lifestyle several years ago, I don't think I'll be jumping at that chance. So maybe I'm old. Or possibly just not good enough. I'm almost grateful that they left open the possibility of the latter.

Maynard Jackson died. Lester Maddox died. Strom Thurmond died. Most awkward gathering at the pearly gates ever.

Geoffrey and I went to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall yesterday. The event this year features Mali, Scotland and Appalachia. The Mali and Scotland parts were cool, but I have to express disappointment in the Appalachia part, which is what I was most looking forward to. They didn't have much at all in the way of crafts or lifestyle demonstrations like the other two areas. They did have a food tent, though, where I was able to get a lunch of a pulled-pork BBQ (mediocre) sandwich, sweet (kinda, but at least they tried) tea, and watermelon. Geoffrey had a haggis burger from the Scotland tent. He is an idiot.

I love my new cell phone. It works on the Metro trains, even in a tunnel! And I can send and receive text messages, which is very exciting, even if it isn't really important to my existence. I'm pretty bad at the games on it, but practice will make perfect, I feel sure.

I think I have been failing to make a most important shout-out to my dear Janna, who is getting all hitched up to Mark in October. She has opted for the full-on traditional wedding, God bless her. She is way braver than me. Also more organized. She's way ahead of me in planning and knows the drill on stuff I haven't even thought of, like registering. Yeah yeah, I'll get around to it. Probably. Anyway, go Janna! I'm super excited for you.