Mourning the loss of a great talent...

I've been very fortunate to have seen LeRoi perform many times wtih DMB. He was a brilliant talent and will be sorely missed. His spirit will most definitely live on in his music.

As best said by a fan, "Jerry just got one hell of a horn player to jam with up there".

RIP LeRoi Moore

From the DMB website...
08/19/2008
We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.

From the DMB Road Crew notes...
As we sat this afternoon contemplating the loss of our brother, we wondered how we could possibly do a show today. Dave put it into perspective stating, "There's no place I'd rather be than here with you guys right now." We cherish special memories of our lost friend. Tonight, Dave told a story about LeRoi at a bar in Virginia where the cash register was near the stage and LeRoi leaned on the register because "standing had become a chore". Roi proceeded to play the most beautiful version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Dave said, "that was the day I fell in love with him. And I'm still in love with him." It's safe to say we all were in love with him. "It's always easier to leave, than to be left." -DM
The DMB Crew
Wednesday, August 20

Withdrawl...

I'm going through Michael Phelps withdrawl...this helps.

I LOVE MICHAEL PHELPS

I know everyone thinks they love Michael Phelps because he's an exciting, fabulous, extraordinary athlete. But I really, really, really love him. I've watched the replay of the 4x100 relay at least 15 times today. It still gives me the chills. Especially this photo, which is one of the reasons I love Michael Phelps.

Yes, I know I have a problem. But how can you not love this?

Today is a good day because...

I found out last night that I have to leave my McLean 1st Ward family behind to attend a new ward (in a new building) due to boundary changes. I'm pretty sad about it (and I admit it, kinda mad too). I'm hoping I can learn to embrace this change, but right now I'm pretty much dreading going to church on Sunday. Being in McLean 1st has been a huge blessing for me and I've met a lot of people who have touched my life. I guess my biggest fear is that they'll just forget about me and move on (esp. since their ward isn't changing much other than a few people leaving), like it really didn't matter that I was in that ward. I guess I want to believe that I had as much of an effect on some of them as they did on me.

Anyway, I've done this before, but I needed to remember some good things about today...

* It's a bit cooler and less humid out today
* It's quiet in the office and I'm getting a lot done
* Two of my roommates are out of town, so the house will be quiet this week
* I finally booked my flight to Phuket and get to stop in Seoul to visit my brother
* I'm trying out a new deli near my house for dinner tonight
* I'm not sick
* My brother and sister-in-law celebrate their 1st anniversary today
* Pre-season football starts this weekend!

See, there's a lot to be happy about (this is what I'll be repeating over and over in my head all day as I try to convince myself).