Be-you-ti-full things

Happy Tuesday, dear readers. A few things have captured my delight. They shall enrapture you as well.

An (all-female) artistic tribute to Dave Matthews.
Now, this entire album would waste your money, but I happened upon a track covering Crash Into Me, and it got me all bejiggity about how much I've loved DMB throughout my life. This dude writes some great sing-along favorites. (To peel back the curtain on my love affair, check it.)

As I mined through the memories of my past, it occured to me that these standards of our generation have been frequently accompanied by an almost certainly buzzed guy at a party. His intent is usually to pluck out some of Dave's finer melodies of love on the giitar, thus picking up a prime specimen in the herd of drunk women. Not a bad idea in and of itself, but this pied piper most often comes out of the gate with Say Goodbye, an overrated ditty about infidelity that so many women swoon over. Boo to that. These women (especially on Stay and Crash) redeem some of Dave's sensual intent without beating me over the head with it.

A truly rockstar August 5 lineup.
I haven't bought my tickets yet, but this year's Bleeding Kansas Festival singlehandedly redeems all of Kansas' lameness. Thank you, God for the oasis of rock and coolness that is Lawrence. The festival features two bands I've seen live and lovelovelovelove - Death Cab for Cutie and Keane, as well as one I'm stoked to see for the first time - Broken Social Scene. I might die with anticipation.

T-minus 18 Days till AFRICA!!!
I. can't. wait. Sarah's been posting lots of stuff on the Soulfari blog, so look there for updates too. I'll be posting here as best as I can while I'm gone, and uploading photos too. Oh, and here's a funny illustration of how nervous/excited I am: I've had my trip clothing laid out on the floor of my bedroom for two weeks now. I can look at it every day and realize how unprepared I am.

The world through the eyes of a vagabond.
I've dug Donald Miller since I read Blue Like Jazz, but Through Painted Deserts isn't so much about God's revelations. It's more a book that makes you conscious of your own smallness and extravagance. His writing has gotten more detailed and decadent with each book.
For example:
"...but all this was done in a longing for his home, the way a man will hold the woman he has while thinking of the woman he loves."
and
"When you build a city near no mountains and no ocean, you get materialsim and traditional religion. People have too much time and lack inspiration."

Love it.

Culinary experiments.
Last night I cooked for the first time in about a month or so, and it was fantastic. I love grocery shopping, so I went to three different places for the best ingredients and whipped together some salmon, a quick caprese salad and the best zucchini ever. I sauteed it in olive oil and added lime juice and chili powder. De-lish. I had forgotten how therapuetic and restful cooking is - but maybe it's because of the red zinfandel.

When everything old is new again.
"You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you." - St. Augustine

Word.