Pink Palace Summer Trial Membership

Every year the Pink Palace Family of Museums offers a Summer Trial Membership, and it is FREE!  This is such a fantastic opportunity!  Every Mid-Southern should take advantage of free unlimited admission to the Pink Palace Museum, Mallory-Neely House, and Lichterman Nature Center.  The Summer Trial Membership also offers certain discounts, check out the website to see all the details. 

Hurry up and click here to sign-up you and your family for some wholesome fun. Do it fast! This offer expires on May 31.  That means you only have 11 more days to take advantage of this opportunity!

J², the Little Rottens, and I already have our membership card printed out.  We are ready to go; I hope to see you there!

Sprint Call Fails

Another Call Fail from Sprint this evening.

Every time I try to use my cell phone in Rosemark or at my home in Tipton County the call fails.  This is seriously every time since I signed my contract with Sprint in March of 2012. It is not just with J² but every call.

I have called Sprint a couple of times and as of this morning I was told by the customer service representative, "The technicians know about this issue.  It is scheduled to be fixed by the 17th. There is nothing I can do for you.  Can I help you with anything else?"

"I'm not trying to be a smart ass but you didn't help me with the first problem.  You can't help me at all."

Does anyone else struggle with this Sprint issue?

What is New?

Take a look at this video I made from inside my secret book of New Year's Resolutions:

It is true!!  I cannot contain my excitement any longer!  As of May 6 I accepted a new position with the University of Memphis! 

A shot of my old desk looking through the door to my new desk. 

Yes! I am only really moving about 15 feet, but it is a huge change. I was an Office Associate with the Transcripts Department, now I'll be a Data Management Specialist 1 in Student Records.  Basically that means that my current supervisor's supervisor will be my immediate supervisor and I'll still be working with Transcripts.  However, I will not only be in Transcripts but involved in all Student Records.  Hooray for more responsibility and knowledge!!!

Wish me luck, I start on Monday the 20th and I am so pumped!

School of Rock Memphis

This past weekend I had a fantastic opportunity to photograph the School of Rock for radio-memphis.com.  On Saturday evening J² and I took Phaedra and Maverick down to Newby's Bar on the Highland Strip for the School of Rock's Memphis performance of Pink Floyd's The Wall.  We were privy to cheering on the SoR Memphis kids performing the entire Pink Floyd album.

I know it is not entirely professional to bring your boyfriend and his Little Rottens out on a gig. Here is the deal,  J² works downtown for Propane Media.  Propane Media sponsors the #InMemphis event at most radio-memphis.com remote locations.  #InMemphis is a fantastic opportunity to win money for something you already do.  If you attend any radio-memphis.com event sponsored by Propane Media and Tweet a photo with #InMemphis you could be chosen as the winner of $100.  As the representative for Propane J² is required to be at the event.  Plus, the kids wanted to see the show.  All of that equals a very cool family outing.  After all, we know what the proverbial they say about a family that works together.   

"What is the Memphis School of Rock?" Just think about the movie School or Rock starring Jack Black.  Well, think about it with less kidnapping because the parents knowingly register their children in music lessons.  However, just like the movie there is music. The SoR takes the approach that "the best way to learn music is to play music."  They offer private and group lessons to all skills levels in guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, and drums all taught by local musicians. One of the coolest aspects of SoR is that they offer their students the opportunity to perform music at local venues in front of live crowds.  These are real rock shows performed by kids. These kids are total rock stars!


The first set of SoR kids take the stage. A Grandmother of a performer ushers children and members of the crowd out of her way so she can get a better views of her granddaughter. Parents, friends, and family members are yelling out the names of the kids they came to see. As the first chord is struck the crowd cheers wildly!

As I am standing backstage watching the performance through the lens of my camera I cannot control the goosebumps running up my back.  I am blown away by the talent of these kids.  The performance is awesome!

There is even a girl that has hot pink strings on her bass.  Can you believe the awesomeness?  If I had hot pink strings on my violin when I played it in fourth grade I might be a fiddle player now. Come to think of it the violin is still in the top of my closet.  Perhaps it is time to dust it off, they do offer adult lessons at the SoR. 

I am so envious that I did not have this opportunity as a kid. J2 thinks it is a wonderful program too, Phaedra starts lessons with the School of Rock tonight!  She is excited!

These kids are the future rock stars of Memphis Music, here are the photos from the shoot.

The next time the School of Rock performs I recommend attending. Congratulations and thank you to Newby's, radio-memphis.com, the School of Rock, the performers, and the parents for putting together such a fantastic all ages event!

Official Staff Photographer

Hey y'all!  I've been so busy the past month I have not had time to share my good news.  I am now the Official Staff Photographer for radio-memphis.com.


Get ready to see a bunch more photos from local Memphis events.

I am totally pumped!

Accendo Acoustic Artist Hour: Tyler Miller

One of the bonuses of working with radio-memphis.com is my standing appointment to photograph the Accendo Acoustic Artist Hour on Thursday evenings at 7pm Central Standard Time, 1am Greenwich Mean Time. 

I have only been photographing the Accendo Acoustic Artist Hour for four weeks and I look forward to it all week.

This week I met Tyler Miller.  When I walked up to him outside of the radio station studio he was alternating between rocking back and forth and gliding side to side on a well-used, sticker-clad skateboard.  As Will Scheff, owner of Accendo and Core 7, introduced me as a photographer shooting his interview Tyler slightly shook his head up and down as he said, "Cool."  He barely spoke when as he gently reached out to shake my hand. The awkward look in his eyes gave me the impression that he did not sign up to be photographed. Instantly I think he is a quiet, shy, skater-boy who is deep in self-reflection and contemplation. I did not know what musical genre to expect from Tyler until I saw the Stray Cat tattooed on his left forearm. I became excited. This kid is about to wow us with American Rockabilly. I was wrong. You would never expect this quiet, anxious, tattooed man to be a thrash metal band member with national touring experience. He is. He toured with Evil Army as their bassist.  He is also a punk rocker in the local bands Los Psychosis and Special Victims Unit.  He is the guitarist of Worserner and Red Rum Anna. Tyler Timebomb is his solo acoustic project. His largest solo project is a dubstep, hip-hop, trap sound named Doozra.  He is the owner of Memphis Punk Productions, and he is also tirelessly working to establish an all-ages venue in Memphis. You might expect this drive from someone much older than this 21 year old with a baby face.  But do not let his baby face fool you, Tyler has plans to take over the Memphis Music Industry.  

Tyler Miller timidly plays his first acoustic song of his Accendo set.

Tyler Miller timidly plays his first acoustic song of his Accendo set.

Tyler looks directly into my camera.

Tyler Miller smiles as he is interviewed for Accendo Acoustic Artist Hour on Radio_Memphis.com.

Will Scheff of Accendo and Core 7 interviewing Tyler Miller live on Radio_Memphis.com

A rare moment when Tyler Miller begins to let down his guard.

Tyler Miller live on Radio_Memphis.com.

Silver Michaels and Will Scheff watch as Tyler Miller plays.

Tyler Miller turns one of his punk songs into an acoustic version. 

Tyler Miller performs for the Accendo Acoustic Artist Hour.

Tyler Miller performs for the Accendo Acoustic Artist Hour.

Will Scheff, Silver Michaels, Tyler Miller, Brother Doug Sandefur after the Accendo Acoustic Artist Hour. 

Color Mania Run

In February, Groupon sends me an email advertising the Color Mania Run at a discount price.  I immediately text my girlfriend, Andrea, to see if I can convince her to join me in an adventure of color.  Without hesitation she responds a resounding, "Count me in."

We purchase our tickets with the aspiration that we will both run the entire race, together.  We both start a C25K (Couch to 5k) program. The first day I go jogging with Chubby Jones my back goes out. I am not hit with just a little pain, no it is a full on herniated disk and sciatica.  It is excruciatingly painful. 

I'm delicate with my back for one month.  It does not get better.  I baby my back for two months.  There is not sign of relief.  The third month I can barely move. Meanwhile, Andrea has become a C25K graduate. She is a daily runner and that is so very cool!

I start physical therapy.

A few days before the race I am diagnosed with bronchitis and a sinus infection. Seriously?!?

The day of the race arrives, May 4, 2013.  I can barely move from the forced squats and lunges of physical therapy and I am coughing so hard my lungs are threatening to land on the concrete. I am going to the race and I will complete it even if I have to crawl.

Andrea and I meet in Millington at the Memphis International Raceway.  The morning is unassuming.  It is cold and wet for May, especially for Memphis.  The parking lot it barricaded by a fence that directs the running participants to the registration table.  We sign up, get situated, take a few photos, and wait for the race to begin. 

The Color Mania Run volunteers are transported like illegal aliens in the back of a Uhaul van. 

Andrea and I enjoying our last few minutes being pristinely clean prior to the race. 

The bag of pink color I was handed at registration with the explicit instructions to only use it during the Color Toss after the race. I held this bad boy as I walked the entire 3.1 miles.

Andrea and I decide to go in the final heat of the run.  I am only there for the experience. Plus I love to watch people.

I must admit, even if you never plan on running in a 5k you should attend a color run.  I did not know what to expect, I dressed as I normally do for exercising and calisthenics, yoga pants, t-shirt, and running shoes.  Other participants came prepared to party.  Gaggles of grown women are wearing matching outfits that consist of homemade flourescent tutus, wildly colorful knee socks, and matching t-shirts.  They look like a kindergarten class of girls who have picked out their own outfits and dressed themselves for the first time.  I love every bit of it!

As our heat takes off I decided to test my back.  I jog along side Andrea.  Although she is a fantastic pace runner my bronchitis, sinus infection, and back are no match.  After jogging for one eighth of a mile I bow out, "I'm sorry Andrea, I can't do it.  Go on," like we were in some sort of war situation.

She says, "It's okay," and continues one foot in front of the other.  Her light blue shirt fades further and further away as I slow to a walk. I plug in my headphones and do the best I can.  Periodically I see her continuing her jog.

At one point we pass each other going opposite directions on either side of the fence.  I raise my hands above me head and yell out loud, "Go Andrea! HOORAY! You can do it!" I "Whoo!" loudly.

The woman pushing her stroller to my left glances at me and begins to push a little faster. Yeah, I probably look like the crazy person here all by myself and cheering on imaginary friends. 

After what seems like hours I finally cross the finish line to cheers of my name, "Way to go AVERILL!"

It is Andrea!  She is completely covered in colored dust, cheering wildly, and waiting to give me a high five.  How fantastic!!!  She is the one that finished the entire race running.  She should have a cheering section, but she is there to cheer on my walk. She is a great friend and that is confidently awesome!

Right after I cross the finish line Andrea and I take a colorful photo. I am a weenie, I covered my face so I would not breath in the colorful cornstarch.

We stay after the race to join the dance party.

Andrea learns an R&B line dance.

 

 Andrea joins in the celebration by learning the Wobble and Gets Low.  

White people and their line dances.

Andrea gets low.

At this point the crowd gathers together in front of the DJ booth.  The DJ begins counting down, "TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN!" 

I'm fumbling to open my color pouch. 

"SIX!"

Andrea says, "Use your teeth! I had to use mine."

"FIVE! FOUR!"

The corner of my color pouch rips open with my teeth. I have a mouthful of pink, flowery scented cornstarch.

"THREE! TWO! ONE!"

The crowd goes wild as the air fills with colorful cornstarch.  

The Color Mania Run is such and enjoyable experience that we have already started planning our crew and outfits for next year, perhaps tutus.  Will you join us?