The other day at work my coworker and I found something in common - we both liked the song that was playing in the store. This is small I know, but I really dont have much in common with her. Our work styles are completely different. She gets offend really easy and sometimes I simply dont know what to do when I work with her. So when we made a connection of liking music (it was a song off of Jason Mraz’s new album) I felt like there a little bit of hope for us. Not that Im wanting this deep relationship with her, but 5:14 is based on Galatians 5:14 which is about loving our neighbors. Where I live, I dont really have typical neighbors - I have business. My ‘neighbors’ in my life is the communities I find myself in, one of them being my coworkers. When this coworker said she is wanting new music and liked (so it seemed) the same type of music I offered to make her a mix CD. She seemed very greatful for the offer, so I made it a point to put it together before I leave next week for Ohio. Not that I listen to a lot of Christian music these days, but I find it interesting that I really didnt add a lot of Christian music to this mix. I wasn’t avoiding it, but Im also not trying to had her a track in the form of a CD. I just want to share with her a little bit of my life which I think this CD reflects, if not my little sound bites of my connections on her play list I wrote up for her. I think opening myself up a little more than I normally do will hopefully show love to her.

1: Behind Your Eyes – Jon Foreman
Jon is the front-man for the band Switchfoot (who you may or may not have heard of) who released four EPs (one for each season, which I find amusing since hes from San Diego like myself, and we do not have seasons there) this past year of his music away from the band. Switchfoot’s music is much more rock, where as his EPs are simple yet amazing singer songwriter style songs. This is one of my favorites.

2: 100 Miles to Charlston – Martha’s Trouble
When I moved from California to North Carolina two years ago this month, my friends Mike and Kari made me a three-disc road trip mix. This is one of the songs Kari picked out for me. I really like Martha’s Trouble music, but this song is where I started.

3: Please Forgive Me – David Grey
David Grey has been a long time favorite of Jason’s. He put this song on a mix CD for me when we first started dating. I have grown to really enjoy David Grey’s music a lot over the past year.

4: Rangers – A Fine Frenzy
We actually play (or did play) this song at Starbucks. She was even a free pick of the week at one point. When I got this CD I wore it out. I really love her voice and music. This is probably my most listened to song of hers.

5: New Life – Todd Martin
I went to see Peter Bradly Adams (who you will met later on this CD) and Todd opened for him. I really enjoyed his personality on stage and bought his CD, even exchanged a few emails with him. Its singer songwriter type stuff again, but a little more pop than normal.

6: Scythian Empires – Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is another guy who Jason really likes who I have gotten into because of how much he listens to his stuff. Andrew likes to whistle a lot in his songs, I like that little touch he adds to his music that’s different than what is out there.

7: Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
I had a really hard time picking which song of theirs to share with you. If you have not seen the movie Once, go right now and rent it. It’s a wonderful movie staring these two people. This song was written for the movie, and it won an Oscar! Jason and I traveled to Richmond just to see them live and it was so worth it. Their music is just amazing.

8: Everything But You – Glen Phillips
Back in the 90s there was a band called Toad the Wet Sprocket who Glen was the front-man for. Apparently they are back together now, but I haven’t heard any music from them yet. Glen between now and then made a little solo career. He’s a very honest song writer.

9: How Lucky We are – Meiko
This past Christmas went I went to California a friend of mine got married. She played this little song at her reception and I’ve loved it ever since.

10: High and Dry – Jamie Cullum
Yet another guy Jason turned me on to. Actually, the day that Jason and I met Jamie Cullum’s CD was the soundtrack to our day as we drove around getting to know each other. This is a wonderful cover of a Radiohead’s song.

11: Tomorrow is a Long time - Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek is a great bluegrass band that you should buy every single one of their albums if you don’t already own them. I maybe love them a little more than most fans because they are from my hometown in California. This is a Bob Dylan cover and I just adore. I usually love Bob Dylan covers more than his originals… I just cant get past his voice. His words on the other hand I could listen to all day long.

12: Chinese Translations – M. Ward
I have to give full credit to my friend Mike for his guy. For his birthday Mike went to see M. Ward live, and I only knowing a few of his songs went along. Seeing M.Ward live put me over the edge and I have been a fan ever since. This is probably his “hit” song.

13: Rowing Song – Patty Griffin
When I lived in Alabama my roommate got me into this wonderful lady who writes mostly sad songs. Sometimes sad songs are just needed and Patty writes beautiful lyrics and her music is pretty. She’s a little bitter at men you could say.

14: Unreconciled - Peter Bradly Adams
He used to be apart of a duo called eastmountainsouth who sadly is no longer. They put out one amazing record that I still listen to a lot. He now does music on his own, this is from his first offering.

15: Plenty – Sandra McCracken
Probably my most favorite singer/song writer is Sandra. I personally think she is better live than in her recordings, even if its just her and her guitar (and her husband has done backup too). She just writes songs that make you think since they don’t always give away what they are all about. This song is pretty clear on its purpose, but just moving. This song is not about her husband – it was written before she met him.

16: Out of My League - Stephen Speaks
I listened to this band a lot in my early twenties – they write a lot of sweet songs about girls. This is one of my favorites; I’m a sucker for a sweet song with a strong piano melody. My dad has out listened me on this song – he and I like a lot of the same type of music.

17: Stars Go Blue – Ryan Adams
My friend Scott is a huge Ryan Adams fan. Actually a good handful of my friends like Ryan Adams a lot, but I’m pretty sure Scott got me listening to him first. Ryan Adams is one crazy guy but he writes some pretty great music. This is one is prettier songs. He can be very rock and roll

18: When the Leaves Turn Green – Songs of Water
I had to put on one of Jason’s bands songs on here. Just couldn’t help myself! This song is one my favorites – its just so pretty. Jason plays the guitar on this song.

Number of Graduation ceremony’s attended: 3

Average time of a graduation ceremony: 2 hours

Number of kids I saw graduate: over 1,000

Number of kids I actually knew: 22

Number of places we had to go for the graduations: 1

Amount of speeches I got to heard: 9

Number of Freeman’s John cheered for that he didnt know: 1

Amount of graduations John went to: 6

Emails replied to during graduations: 11

Number of different skirts worn: 3

Different colors of robes: 2

Number of Graduation parties I was invited to: 7

Number of Graduation parties attended: 4

Amount of veggie plates I ate: couple of pounds

How many times I was proud of these kids: a billion

My birthday is 18 days after Christmas. Thankfully I have family and friends who understand that joint presents are not okay. This means though that my receiving of gifts is pretty limited to the Winter time. I start getting itchy for gifts around Summer and the Amazon wish list gets updated a lot around this time. And to be totally honest, I love giving gifts more than getting them. I really do, as much I do love me some presents, Id take giving one over receiving one any day. But… then I discover this:

The Office DVD Board Game

or

The Office Trivia Game

Its two of my favorites - The Office and board game. TOGETHER! This might be one of those days where Id like to give a gift rather than get one.

There is a Dunkin’ Donuts being built walking distance from my house. That, ladies and gentleman is very dangerous. Its not as though I am a huge Dunkin’ Donuts fan by any means. I think Ive been to one maybe a handful of times in my whole life, probably less. Im more of a Krispy Kreme girl myself - when that pretty red sign is on, its takes great strength to keep driving by. A lot of times the hot and now just call my name so loudly that I cant help but to listen. My love for Krispy Kreme has dampened a bit when I once was like a moth to a flame when I saw the “Hot Donuts Now” sign on. I ordered “One hot donut now please!” (yes just like that) and when I received my donut it was not hot or now. It was a very, very sad day. But needless to say, I like donuts. My tolerance for sugar doesn’t allow me to have more than say two in one sitting, but even two too often is not good. Cake donuts, like the ones at Dunkin’ Donuts are quite tasty. I can see myself now, convincing myself “Well if I walk to Dunkin’ Donuts and back, when Im totally burning the calories Id eat from a yummy sprinkled donut.” I can make anything healthy, even donuts! Oh yeah, this can not be good.

I was at the used bookstore in town the other day and found the greatest hits album for the band PFR. I wouldnt have called myself a huge fan, but two CDs I did had of them, I played out. So much in fact that when I put the CD in my car this morning for my ride to work I sang along as if I listened to these songs yesterday. I laughed out loud at the fact I still could sing these songs word for word, even if has been ten years since I sang them last.

For a long time (and maybe still have in a box somewhere in my parents garage) I had a interview with one of the guys in PFR who is married to Leigh Nash. I believe I tore this interview page out of the magazine called 8 Ball? Maybe? Anyways it was this awesome music magazine. I distinctively remember a photo of the PFR guy and Leigh Nash - they were newly married and she was ether just starting Sixpence or just before that. Ether way, it was pre-dark eyeliner days for Leigh. She wore overalls in these photos - as was I when I read the interview probably.

This CD is worth every penny of the $2 bucks that I paid for it.