a whole lotta simply

okay. wanna be in bed early (by, ahem, half one) so this'll have to be quick.

by night i am back in merch girl mode at the ::Duke Special Five Nights at the Empire Extravaganza::
jayne's doing it too and we are having a fair auld amount of fun and enjoying each night and their different themes, despite working hard and late. it's an honour to be representing him.

Sunday night was "music hall". cue crowd being handed song sheets and having a big auld knees up and sing song. last night was the night of the "silver screen". cue big screen on stage and pete playing to silent movies. there were some amazing moments. what looked like 1920s or 30s images of folks being baptised fully clothed in a river while pete played, this could be my last day was truly breathtaking. and there were some incredible quirky films which showed how inventive folks were at creating special effects in the early days of cinema.
tonight was the "big band" show - with a 5 strong horn section led by ben castle. cue covers of the Andrews sisters (mo and lynn, you would have loved it!) and the closing number was an AWESOME cover of ::hit me with your rythm stick:: this show was the strongest so far and helped by a crowd that were totally up for it.
if i understand the plan correctly, tomorrow night features two different choirs with 20 members apiece. i've no idea what thursday has in store other than i suspect i will not be making it to bed between the after show party and the arrival of the taxi at half five to go to the airport.

this week is going to result in the production of a *very* special piece of merchandise, which i cannot wait to get my mits on. keep your eyes and ears open...

::

by day i am desperately trying to get metres of woolen patchwork sewn together for the ikon gathering. hence, tonight i need an early night.

but
come friday night i'll be on mainstage doing backing vocals for sarah masen with a group of fantastic women, some whom i love to death (like jude) and others i have yet to meet but know i'll love and as a result i've been hearing a few songs (new and old) of sarah's that i've never heard before. check out her new myspace for details...

and in a burning the candle at both ends week filled with very little sleep and much busyness, need for hardcore stress management, worries for folks i love who are in hard places right now and wanting courage to be strong for them despite feeling useless and scared, and learning to let go of the things i can't control because only the fool seeks perfection...well, these lyrics (which are in the set list) seem rather like a blessing, and the kind of prayer my a/theistic heart can sing to...

Ploughman, by Sarah Masen.

Some men curse and some complain
Beneath the strain, beneath the strain
Break your heart beneath the weight
It’s ok, to face the strain

Ploughman drive the culture deep and straight
Drive it till my man is wide awake
Wide awake

Let me hold you through the night
I don’t mind, well let me try
Who has told you not to cry?
That’s not right, that’s a lie

Ploughman drive the culture deep and straight
Drive it till my man is wide awake
Wide awake
Wide awake

I’m not giving up
I’m not giving up now
Oh I’m not, I’m not giving up now

Bend yourself unto the ground
Just get down
Just get down
watch for the first light of dawn
it will come
it will come

Ploughman drive the culture deep and straight
drive it till my man is wide awake
wide awake

it will come…
It will
It will
It will

sometimes we know god's presence by god's absence... and then some days when god seems entirely absent, something like presence seems to be breaking through like a defiant voice of hope in the strain... somedays i wonder if G-d is simply what we call the will to live life with hope and courage and kindness to ourselves and others... and for a ::simply:: that seems like a whole lot...

so, here's to sarah and jude and the gaggle of goose gals who'll be jumping around and celebrating life on friday night
and
here's to pete, jonny, jon, jayne, padraig, chris, willow, shirley, cazi, kellie, michael, and norah and the generous others who've come on board as supporting 'cast' in ikon, who'll be celebrating life in a rather different but no less real way on saturday night...

::

and
here's to the ::team fury enclave:: and all who eat in fellowship in her and will most definately be celebrating life all weekend...
and
heck, here's to all travelling over the next few days to 'belt it out and celebrate ::heaven in the ordinary::
looks like we might not need our wellies after all. [cue homer s. woo hoo!]
and finally,
here's to those needing healing... it will come...

so colour me fucking gratitudinal (for once i will not hold back on the expletatives) for the joy of getting to share this journey with folks for whom i *really* admire, respect, and love...

also colour me sporting a new and most dramatic ever (read: asymmetrical) haircut (this is becoming my favourite day of the month).

right, half an hour later than i intended, off to bed i go. i'll likely post next from the fest, with photos. let's do this.

LB,x