Hey You.

How have you been?

If you were here I'd offer you a cup of coffee and a piece of my fantastic quilt that my mother made for me for Christmas.

Quilts are like resonator banjos to me - the heavier they are the better they are.  This quilt is like an old Gibson banjo in other words.  Only my mom just made it for me for Christmas.

And, yes,  I just used a musical instrument to describe something.

Yes, I do that often, I know.

Have I said how good it is to see you again?

Let's paint a picture.

It's... oh.... 20 something degrees outside, our road is still solid ice along with it's buddy the driveway and we're kinda stuck until it warms up.  Not so bad.  The sky is that well-known milky snow sky color, and everything is just still for the moment.  It reminds me of the Feather farmhouse in the winter before everyone wakes up.

At this point, I would like to thank my father, The Eagle Scout, for teaching me how to build a proper fire.  For those of you that don't know, prepare to be enlightened... http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Fire.  Nothing like Dr. Who and a roaring fire.  Yes ma'am!

I just found out that there are only two seasons (Well, one full season and a bunch of specials) with my favorite Dr. Who, David Tennant (oh, let's have another one!).  I'm vetoing Matt Smith although I have been told by several of my Dr. Who counterparts that I should give him a chance and that he is quite good.

GIVE HIM A CHANCE?!  Oh yes, there's a good idea.  The Dr. Who you're really into just packs up and leaves, regenerates and all that rubbish, and yeah... it's all okay, right?  HELL NAW!  I need some time!  I ain't no Rose Tyler!  (Although, if my Doctor did regenerate into David Tennant I'd be like..."Okay, this one is okay.  He can stay.")  I stick by my man!...ah hem... Doctor.

Have you figured out I am a mega nerd yet?  If not, well, it's kinda the way it goes.  Might as well shake hands, accept the fact, and move on.  I have a Star Wars coffee mug sitting right next to me at the moment.  Because Billie Feather had to dress up in everything Star Wars to ride the Star Wars ride at MGM Studios when she was a little teenager.  At least I had fun!

Maybe not a mega nerd... I like sci-fi stuff.  "Like" like a big old stuffed animal of sci-fi I could cuddle with and nuzzle my nose into.

Clearly the coffee just hit me.  Damn you organic Rain-forest Blend!  I wonder what else is in that rain-forest...

ANYWAYS.

A snow day is most certainly welcome as of late.  There's so much going on my head hurts.  John's back in school, which has changed our relationship dynamic.  Not in a bad way, just... you know... an evolution of sorts.  I'm really proud of him for stepping up to the challenge.  I'm filling out applications and getting ready for my audition at Central University for yet another guitar degree - but this time I'm not stopping until I have a doctorate.  Unless, of course, some crazy thing happens along the way.  What in the holy heck am I gonna do with a doctorate in music?  Teach at a university, and happily spend the rest of my days playing music in a Frank Lloyd Wright type house mixed with some ideas from Myst, and more than a touch of Japanese temple architecture.  With a library/record room.  Maybe even get a dog.  By the time I am 39 (EEEPP!!!) I should have it all in order.  (Maybe?)

I leave Sunday night straight from a show to Clarksdale, Mississippi with my father (he's being a real trooper, and being the second driver).  I'm recording a bunch of blues songs with a bunch of really talented singers.  It should be a lot of fun.

After that I believe I will be at The Thirsty Beaver (I love Mark and Brian, I hope we all grow old together!) with (GASP!) the bo-stevens for Super Bowl Sunday (No STEELERS?!  Booooo.  I'm wearing my Steelers jersey anyways.  Probably bring my Dad too since I am neglecting our annual Superbowl Party duties by playing a show.)  Come on over and say hello.  Maybe help me boo the Patriots.  Why?  Because of Tom Brady.  Why do I not like Tom Brady?  I dunno, he's just fun to pick on because he has no other real issues in life.  He beat the Steelers once.  UNCOOL.

But then THE STEELERS SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER.  Step it up boys, step it up!

Not that I can throw a football to save my life.  But I can wear the heck out of a jersey and kick a soccer ball!

I have mad soccer skills.

Not really, but I like to pretend I do.

It's nice having a five/six year old around to play soccer whenever you want.  And he never gets tired.  "Hey Little D!  Let's play soccer!"  "Okay, Big B!"  Nice.

I can, however, swim team with the best of them.

Coffee refill!  BRB.

doo, doo, doop, da, doo...

BACK!

Well, it looks like the Billie Feather and the Hallway Waltz are coming into the world.  I've got a wonderful bassist and drummer on board, and I'm looking for a multi-instrmentalist/harmony (Chapel Hill/Durham/Raleigh area?) singer to round it out.  What's it gonna be like?  Folky/Americanay/Punky something.  It's basically all the songs I've been writing since I picked up a guitar finally having a place to go.  I've had a ton of people ask me about my own stuff lately, and I thought... well, I guess a little low pressure, low commitment thing wouldn't be so bad.  It also gives John a bit of breathing room since he needs more time to focus on school.

Speaking of all that, The Rosewood Bluff has a TON of awesome shows lined up.  Cash Bash Winston-Salem being one of them (I'll be playing bass not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES in one night!).  I'm waiting until after Clarksdale to get my head back in the Rosewood Bluff game, and I'm sure you'll hear all about them on the John Howie Jr. and The Rosewood Bluff facebook page.

The P-90's?!  Still kicking!  We're doing a show with The Bleeding Hearts at The Cave in Chapel Hill on February 8th.  So, if you like spead-up old school rock and roll, (what we like to think of as 70's punk) it's the show to be at.  And The Cave makes you feel like you're in the band.  :)

All right.  Gonna take a shower and get to it.  Maybe try to see if the roads are open enough to make it to Waffle House.  Mmmm... maybe.  I can hear Loretta the Volvo saying "NUH-UH!" from here.

And, yes, coffee in the shower.  Or tea, as my cousin likes it.

Love, love, love,

~Billie.

PS- It's still cold outside.  Brrr!