I am Happy and Grateful Today!

Inspired by a forum thread on the Nanowrimo website, to post every day something that you are grateful for today, and something that has made you happy today.  So here is what has made me happy and grateful for today...

What I'm grateful for today:

For some reason I woke up bouncing happy today, wide awake, full of energy, and happy to accomplish many things. This has not happened to me for a really long time!

 

What makes me happy today:

Sitting down this afternoon with the warm sunny weather, and starting to create a colour pencil landscape art piece that I really enjoyed doing. (I don't usually enjoy landscapes, but this one is fun).  Now all I have to do is plan my novel for CampNanowrimo and I'll be all set with my Art and Writing Goals! :)

New Music Monday - Discovering Rhythm & Blues

This year I've decided to embark on a journey of self-discovery, I love anything to do with reinventing your life and I am currently feeling inspired by Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project.  She says that what someone else finds fun, is not necessarily what everyone else finds fun.  I think it's important to try new things, and discover what you like in life.  Today, I'm starting with music.

I don't know a lot about Blues music, so I've stumbled across BBC Radio 2 's Rhythm & Blues show, with DJ Paul Jones.  On first listen, this reminds me of Jools Holland's style of music, which I've liked what I've heard.  There's a lot of harmonica which I like, and it has a laid back, honky-tonk kind of feel to it.  It's pleasant, and gives me images of a dark smokey bar, where you can just recline on a couch, drinking whiskey, with a smile on your face. 

On tonight's show Dani Wilde was the featured artist in session.  I liked the last song she sung, 'Falling', and this one I've just found on Youtube:

Dani Wilde

"I Love You More Than I Hate Myself"

I don't know much about Rhythm & Blues, but I know enough now to know I want to know more.  I found a couple of interesting links from the BBC Radio 2 show website, two magazines that seem to cover modern Rhythm & Blues music.  They are:  Blues in Britain - an independent magazine writing about the best in British blues music, and FRoots - The essential folk, roots and world music guide. 

I'm looking forward to finding some new music to like!