more Buechner

Who better to speak into the question and idea of vocation than Frederick Buechner? I continue to read his silly and profound book Wishful Thinking. I read this entry and have been chewing on it for days. Or, rather, it has been chewing on me.

Vocation
It comes from the Latin vocare, to call, and means the work a person is called to by God.

There are all different kinds of voices calling you to all different kinds of work, and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God rather than of Society, or the Super-Ego, or Self-Interest.

By and large a good rule for find out is this: The kind of work God usually call you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. If you really get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing cigarette ads, the chances are you've missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time you're bored and depressed by it, the chances are you have not only bypassed (a), but probably aren't helping your patients much either.

Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

(emphasis mine)

no blogs...

to name the obvious: i've stopped blogging.

life got hectic and scattered, and somehow it was the first to slip. or maybe the 2nd. or 16th. either way, it stopped.


on a side note: i've stopped reading blogs as well [nothing personal]. i think yall are writing wonderfully insightful things, and having great conversations. honestly, i blame this 95% on luke overwhelming the blogging world with 15 posts a day in September/October and then only sticking to his blogging fast for an hour [i get overwhelmed when my RSS reader tells me i have 10+ unread blogs. currently: 81]. the other 5% is that i spend 6+ hours a day with a computer at work. when i get home what i really want is to sit in front of a person and not a screen.

i'll try to pick things up as my life gets better margins.


but for now, i've been reading Buechner's Wishful Thinking. It's simple and refreshing. thoughtful. All things i need right now...

Lying
There is perhaps nothing that so marks us as human as the gift of speech. Who knows to what degree and in what ways animals have the power to communicate with each other, but to all appearances it is only a shadow of ours. By speaking, we can reveal the hiddenness of thought, we can express the subtlest as well as the most devastating of emotions, we can heal, we can make poems, we can pray. All of which is to say we can speak truth - the truth of what it is to be ourselves, to be with each other, to be in the world - and such speaking as that is close to what being human is all about. What makes lying an evil is less that the world is mischievously deceived by it than that we are sorely dehumanized by it.

[and luke... blog as much as you're able. what the world needs is more of your thoughtful love, not less!]

the Birds of the Air

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Matthew 7:25 & 26



I've been reading the Message of late as well. Here it is. It's good...

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

Quote of the Evening

"I'm mavericky"*

~ Rustin Smith


* Please note: this in no way identifies Rustin with any sort of political affiliation or support. It merely means that Rustin is a pop culture guru who has the brilliance to say hilariously ironic statements in everyday conversation.

just as important as Powell's announcement... no, not really, but just as amazing!!!

This is a big deal...

This news surprised me at lunch today, and I thought I would share. A Republican military leader endorsing Barack Obama adds a great deal of credibility to the substance of change Obama speaks of. I will be interested to see if further endorsements are made for both candidates in the upcoming weeks and how that gives weight to each side.

Oh, and here is a Chicago Sun-Times article on Powell's endorsement.

First Day of Scarves

Today was my first day wearing a scarf. I love the beginning of scarf season; just cold enough that it's a fashion choice rather than a dire necessity. To start things off, I went with the charcoal/slate scarf Cindy knitted me as an early Christmas present (thanks Cindy!).


In other news... Barack Obama is going to be in Kansas City on Saturday. They're holding a rally at Liberty Memorial. RSVP here.

Taylor & Joshon

This weekend, I found myself again in Oklahoma City. I almost didn’t go. It’s been a wonderful couple of weeks, but life has been full. I’ve taken day trips the last two weekends and, frankly, I’m tired. I would have enjoyed being home for this one. My perfect Friday night would have been dinner and then coffee on Mass St.

Nothing is better than a Fall evening on Mass.

There is so much life and vitality on that street; diversity intermingling and enjoying the same built environment. Instead, I found myself leaving work a little bit early, driving for 5 ½ hours and arriving at 9:30. At that point, I immediately drove to my favorite taco joint for a late dinner. I confess: Taco Cabana was a motivating factor in getting me into the car!

I came down for a friend’s wedding. In the Summer of ‘08, I had the opportunity to live in Rome. For 7 weeks, a pregnant married couple, 3 college students and the world's most over-qualified barista shared a 900 sq. ft apartment in Testaccio, Rome, Italy. Taylor, who met her husband a few weeks after we returned from Italy, was Joshon’s bride. They got married Saturday evening in a vineyard.

Friday afternoon, as I debated whether to make the trip, my friend Katie asked if I would be sad if I missed the wedding. A wedding junkie, Katie had a hunch that this was an important event.

She was right. This was a wedding not to be missed.

At 6pm on a cool, clear, somewhat windy Oklahoma evening, a crowd of 250 gathered in anticipation of the coming events. At the bottom of a gently sloping hill, a tree sat by a small pond; white folding chairs in a half moon shape enclosed this makeshift sacred space. The groomsmen wore various varieties of linen pants and earth tone shirts; flips flops were the norm. The bridesmaids wore complimentary shaded dresses, seemingly of their own choosing, and held bouquets of wheat. Johson walked freely amongst the crowd in white linen pants and the pimpest baby blue shift I’ve ever laid eyes on; he, of course, was barefoot. But the simplicity of the event did not at all take away from the elegance and radiance of Taylor. Wearing a beautiful white dress, she beamed at her groom as she walked down the hill to take Joshon hand in hand and covenant her life to him before God.

After a short, humble ceremony, all the men under 60 each grabbed a couple of lawn chairs and the crowd walked up the hill to an adjacent barn. The nicest buffet of hors d’oeuvres, wine, and a coffee bar greeted us. Within the hour soft, gentle music had begun. Within 2, beats were bumping and the dance floor was filled with celebrating friends. As we were leaving a few hours later, I wondered aloud where Taylor and Joshon were. My friend laughed and said they had left a long time ago. Slipping out of the party sometime after they were toasted, they allowed the party to go on uninterrupted.


And that for me, was the beauty of this weeding. I don’t want to give the impression that somehow Taylor and Joshon weren’t at the center of the celebration, because they were; this was their wedding. From the outdoor ambiance to the simple wedding attire to the dance music and the free lattes, the entire evening exuded their personalities. But it also, seemingly, was not their wedding, or rather, it was not just their wedding.

This was also a celebration of humanity, a time to remember and enjoy all things human. Weddings are one of those rare times in which we remember we are a created people, a race full of intention. Whether through the vast development of evolution, the sudden entrance of creation or something in between, there seems to be meaning behind all that is natural. I believe there is a Divine Father who is present to His creation, His living artwork. Saturday night felt like a big party on his front lawn. It was almost like, in all that we did, we were reminding ourselves of all things good: freedom, reconciliation, hope, laughter, taste, touch, friendship, humility, commitment. I am not so naïve to believe everyone had this experience that night, but that is how I felt. To borrow a phrase from Rob Bell, a pastor and author, Taylor and Joshon’s wedding was an experience of “Heaven crashing into Earth.”

Taylor & Joshon, thank you. You are a couple who simply and humbly love. It seems funny to congratulate you, because I strongly feel that your love for one another is the simple consequence of both of you being who you are individually: servants, truth-seekers and adventurers. How can you congratulate someone for being them? But I shall. Congratulations on your new life together. May it be full of the things you both pursue: freedom, dreams and, yes, love.

for all you joe six-packs out there...

If you had purchased $1,000.00 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago you would have $49.00 left.

With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the original $1,000.00.

With WorldCom, you would have had less than $5.00 left.

But, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer one year ago, drank all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling refund, you would have $214.00 cash.

yes, this is copied from a forward message i received at work.

yes, i feel lame throwing it on my blog.

in fact, i don't even count it as a real blog post.

i just count it as hilarious!

i hear polar bears can swim...

sorry, if it crosses a line or two. still appreciated the creativity and message.


reading, literacy, really?

Victor Frankl

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.

Victor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

Thanks Art for that timely quote. It was Life for me!

bumper stickers... they move me

Yesterday morning I passed a Ford Focus with no less than 4 McCain/Palin bumper stickers proudly displayed for all to see. Though appreciating the symmetry of their political association (3 stickers on the back windshield & 1 on the bumper forming a nice "T"), the volume of another's affiliations in the form of bumper stickers typically has little to no affect on my own. Unless this happens to be your car…

my good friend Tyler standing in front of his CPM ("Christian Propaganda Mobile")

Please feel permission to share your favorite bumper sticker slogan, Christian or otherwise, at this time.

lil' bit o' Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes. Been listenin to 'em. Been enjoyin 'em. Ran across this music video of their First Day of My Life. Loved it.

On the blog!

yeah, i'm a romantic.

HYPERCOLOR!!!

yeah, it's back.

Lewis

In the last weeks I've been reading and rereading the introduction to Lewis' the Weight of Glory & other Addresses. Walter Hooper, a literary advisor to Lewis' estate, shares his friendship with Lewis, particularly the summer he spent with Lewis before his death in November of 1963. Even in 11 short pages, Hooper paints such a captivating picture of Lewis that I find myself lingering and dwelling in these stories and descriptions of a vibrant life...

There was one incident that took place in Acland which the readers of the Narnia stories might find as endearing as I did. It took place on one of those days when Lewis's mind was disordered and when, as I noticed, he could not recognize any of those who dropped in to see him - not even Professor Tolkien. The last visitor of the day was his foster-sister, Maureen Moore Blake, who a few months previously, and by a very unexpected turn of events, have become Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs, with a castle and a vast estate in Scotland. She was the first woman in three centuries to succeed to baronetcy. They had not met since this happened and, hoping to space her any disappointment, I told her that he had not been able to recognize any of his old friends. "Jack," she whispered, "it is Maureen." "No," replied Lewis smiling, "it is Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs." "Oh, Jack, how could you remember that?" she asked. "On the contrary," he said, "How could I forget a fairy tale?"

... the high spirits and uproarious sense of fun that I found one of the most attractive things about Lewis. But it would take someone of Boswell's talents to give the right idea to the completeness of this remarkable man, to how naturally the humor blended into the more serious side, and indeed was one of the causes of his greatness of heart, his large intellect, and the most open charity I have ever found in anyone. He was a man, many of have come to see, of common instincts combined with very uncommon abilities. Perphaps it is worth recording that I knew - I just knew - that not matter how long I lived, no matter who else I met, I should never be in the company of such a supremely good human being again.

I have begun to read Lewis' Surprised by Joy and hope to pick up Jack soon. This, for me, is the fleshing out of Hebrews 12:1... Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us...

a few more favorites...

for shopping in Lawrence... BoMo & the Casbah Market

for utter hilarity... Craig's List Best Of's

for visual inspiration... the works of Daniel Coburn (now featured at the Signs of Life gallery)

that's all I've got. thought i had more, but nothing's coming. hope the weekend was great!

(and on a side note: I am a little bit disappointed that for the 2nd year in a row I will be missing the Banff Mountain Film Festival at Liberty Hall)

my favorite of mornings

Friday morning was one of my favorite sort of mornings... chilly, foggy, damp. Now granted on those mornings I like to do one of two things:

sleep in with the windows open
or
go to a coffee shop


Friday I found myself quickly visiting a job site, so I did my third favorite option: take some pictures. Enjoy!

too much of a good thing?

other considered blog titles...
Hey Universal, 2001 called and it wants it's movie back!

Paul Walker, he's so hot right now.

Really?

Seriously?

Again?

Guess who has two thumbs and doesn't need to be in another car movie? Vin Diesel

Opening night!


Care to add your own?


(confession: as much as i give this movie a hard time, i'm going to see it. probably in the theaters. something about high speed car chases & simplistic plots... gets me every time!).

Adventures in Farsightedness

This evening, I had an eye appointment. During said appointment, my optometrist decided to dilate my eyes to check for glaucoma and maybe another serious optic disease.

Im free and clear, thanks for asking.

He assured me that not only would I be able to wear my contacts and drive home safely, but that I would only experience slight farsightedness lasting for a couple of hours.


And now a play-by-play of those couple of hours...

In an attempt to give my eyes time to see better, I decided to run over to Barnes & Noble to pick up some things Ive been needing. One small problem... books have small print & I couldn't focus on anything between a range of 2" and 3'. My solution was, of course, to hold the books up to my nose while reading the price, back cover, title, you get the idea. Shockingly, I couldn't find the C.S. Lewis biography I was in search of, BUT I did manage to score 2 journals and a map... we'll see what they look like tomorrow.

Still not being able to focus between 2" and 3', I drove home. To Lawrence. From Overland Park. Speed was a guesstimate as I couldn't exactly see the speedometer, but hey, I made it home OK.

Upon arrival to Lawrence, I rushed over to Dillons to pick up some veggies. Still couldn't see up close. Got to the self-checkout and couldn't read the code for the salad bar. I utilize the salad bar multiple times a week (don't judge... it's convenient and healthy), so I figured I would kinesthetically remember the code: closing my eyes, my fingers would magically remember. They didn't. At least not correctly. 5 minutes later and an embarrassing explanation later, I made it home.

As I got to my apartment, my neighbor, Nikki, was just leaving for a run. She's training for the Chicago half-marathon and today was a 5-miler. In a moment of genius, I decided to join her. Really, it wasn't bad, expect having to look 20 feet down the path rather than 5. I survived.

When I got home, I rushed to take a shower so that I could watch Obama's speech at the DNC (nice job B!), but not before calling Tyler to tell him where we were watching. Tyler is speed-dial 9... Luke is speed-dial 8... I don't know why Luke picked up Tyler's phone, but he politely declined coming to the Africa house to watch the speech.

first timin

Tonight was a night of firsts. Well, two firsts. But at age 25 two firsts seems like a big deal. Or at least worthy of a blog post.


First #1... the Cellar Rat. I've heard about it for months. I've considered joining their wine club (2 or 3 bottles of wine a month from up & coming vineyards for $30... hello!). Super close to work. But, I've never made it in. A free Sake tasting, amazing aesthetics and great deals has pretty well sold me. All I have to do now is drink wine...


First #2... and this is embarrassing... Costco. How have I not been in? Uh, I don't know... I've never needed a vat of olive oil and 15 pounds of fried rice? Again, Im sold. I got the biggest container of hummus I could find & my weight in pita crisps. Who needs ghetto Dillons?

hope & hopelessness

I woke up Tuesday morning with Waterdeep's Good, Good End on my mind... or in my heart... or near whatever part of you brings forth a song you haven't heard in awhile.

Hope has been a theme of late. No conversations have named it specifically, but I see it everywhere. Hope in the midst of endeavors. Hope in brokenness. Hope in trial. There is something deeply good and deeply human about hope. As we see possibilities despite overwhelming impossibilities, we take a better grasp of Life within. Hope somehow propels us to live more deeply and fully and intentionally than circumstances might typically lend.

And just as evident has been the presence of hopelessness. Hopelessness that snuffs out the candle when the flame has barely been lit. Hopelessness which covers a situation like a thick fog, cutting off all clarity and illumination. Just as hope is an expression of humanity, so appears to be hopelessness (as much as I hate to accept this). Hopelessness draws us to need and to receive; it opens us in a raw way to others and to God.

I don't really know how this works, but it seems like being human is both deep belief in self, others and the future, and deep need in others and the Divine. Life is the dance between those two realities.

I should mention... I usually like to post a link to a song when I reference it, but I couldn't find Good, Good End anywhere.

Youtube.com...
"Waterdeep" nope.
"Waterdeep, Good, Good End" nope.
"Waterdeep, End" nope.
"Waterdeep, Good" nope.
"Waterdeep, Good, Good" nope.
"Waterdeep, Heart Attack Time Machine" nope.

It got so bad that I stooped to a new low and went to Godtube.com... surely the Christians will have posted a video. Nah. The one time I rely on mainstream evangelical christianity for pop culture... failed!

BUT... I did see this gem of an advertisement on the site...

www.christianmingle.com

"Meet they Neighbor"

confession: i am lame

Last night, I rode a bike for the first time in, ohhhhh, 5 years. Who doesn't ride a bike in 5 years? Apparently me. I must confess, I was a little bit nervous before my big ride (and by "big ride," I mean less than a mile to a friend's house and back!); what if I've lost the skill?

Never fear, I haven't. I'm as mediocre at bike riding as I was when I stopped.


So, Im proud to have taken one more step to Lawrence assimilation. Next up: Fall Ultimate Frisbee league. Straight up.


And if you're in Lawrence, or a surrounding area, and want to bike somewhere... Im down. Because Im tight like that.

Im so tight that my bike is purple. What does that say? Pure bad ass!

in case you decide to have a mid-week dance party...

i vote you add this one to the mix




or at least laugh at my eccentric music taste.

it brings me back old school to my Urban days. i think my hip peaked at 24.

Hill to Lewis

i read this quote...

What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt a definitive purpose, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all-consuming obsession.

~ Napoleon Hill

and it reminded me of this quote...

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child, who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

~ Clive Staples Lewis

Comeon Now... I aint that old!

At house church yesterday, it came to my attention that the vast majority of our group hadn't* heard the Verve Pipe's song, the Freshman.

I recognize that I have a good half a decade on many of our constituents, but really? This is a classic 90's song. I remember singing along to this and a Long December back when 105.9 was actually good.

And so, in case you too missed out on this one-hit wonder...

* I intentionally use the past tense, hadn't, because frankly they have now... a special thanks to youtube.com and Tyler's ability to picking up a song pretty quick on the guitar

refreshment

I worked 11.5 hours on Friday. 8a to 7:30p. Ate lunch at my desk. A few random breaks here and there, but we have a few Monday am deadlines, so primarily I... just... kept... working...

I was planning on going to the gym at some point during the day, but I just kept pushing it back. Lunch turned into mid-afternoon turned into after work turned into screw that, I'm going home. (and by "going home" I mean have a delicious salad at the Mixx and then watch Tropic Thunder with Luke. Best night in awhile, thanks man!)


The highlight of my day came around 9:30a when I started to gather some background information for one of our upcoming construction sites. I was attempting to locate the existing utilities, so I was calling multiple municipalities and companies to find their individual lines.

I ended up calling one elderly gentleman who frankly I shouldn't have called. Wrong company. Wrong city. Wrong state.

As soon as he answered the phone, I quickly told him who I was, who I was with and what I needed. His response simultaneously completely threw me off and utterly rejuvenated me. He greeted me with such familiarity and welcome that I swore we were old friends. His voice dripped with warmth and care, as he asked me how I was. He then gently laughed at my mistake and completely reconciled it by telling me not only the company I should call, but also the specific person.

Our 5 minute conversation was so refreshing, I'm tempted to make a habit of "accidentally" calling him.

a $20K hookup

Emily, a friend, KU student and member of our Lawrence community, applied for a tea scholarship. Apparently such things exist AND the payout is $20K. She wrote an original song and made a music video. Part of the judging is internet viewings and comments.

So, watch the video.

maybe
a
couple
of
times

But all through my blog, so my google analytics goes crazy and I feel really popular...


Thus, a win - win - win situation.

LOST Season 1

finished.


some quick thoughts...

- Sawyer is starting to redeem himself, yet still a jackass.
- Hurley says "dude" way too much, but I still like him.
- Charlie was stupid for taking the heroin. Moron.
- Locke is crazy and is probably going to both get people killed and save some lives. He's got that duplicity within him.
- Jack... Leader, Passionate, Bullheaded, Tattooed. Everything I want to be.
- Sayid is a badass.
- Boone's a hero.
- Michael's learning to be a good father.
- I still want to marry Kate.

Season 2 will commence shortly

productive.

This weekend was one of those great, productive weekends.

Helped celebrate Steph and wish her well in OK.
Hung with Rustin & the Vox Dei Community at Theology Pub.
Reorganized my kitchen to my liking... it needed it.
Cleaned my house a bit... it really needed it.
Did my laundry.
First Yoga (via DVD... I dont have the gall to drop into a studio)
Had delicious Thai with the parents.
Almost finished Season 1 of LOST (I've got 25 minutes left... who knew the season finale was 85 minutes...!)

And, topped it off with Step Up 2: the Streets

Im fairly certain Im a street hip hop dancer reincarnated.

what you know

I again found myself in Oklahoma City last weekend. Seeing friends. Wishing I could rock climb. Drinking the best Long Island Iced Tea I've had in a long time. And generally being refreshed.


Sunday morning, I had a brief conversation with Lance, a pastor and man I deeply respect. He asked me how things were going in Lawrence with our House Church adventures. Immediately, my many questions, concerns and desires poured forth. Lance listened patiently and then simply asked: but what do you know?


A simple question. And yet, even as I began to answer, I felt my focus and priorities shifting.

I tend to be a bit of a thinker. I question a lot. For me, that's the fun and joy of life: embracing the unknown, taking hold of mystery and seeing where the adventure might take you.

But, there was something centering about that question, something that deeply encouraged me in that moment.


For the things that we know, those small tidbits of life that we are confident of and can put the full weight of life against, are small chunks of rock. Each individually are pretty insignificant. Even together they can be nothing more than a pile of rubble. But given care and intention, they can be aligned and positioned in such a way to be a beautiful design and create one unit. There may be holes yet to be filled in, gaping questions and large areas of doubt, but as we step back and look at this formation, we realize that the pattern of rock is a foundation.

And it is on foundations that beautiful things are built.

on repeat

im excited

for... what's next?


(in case you missed the memo... the Dusty Bookshelf in Manhattan & Lawrence is a gem. i could spend hours there perusing the shelves. i may still, if this engineering thing doesn't work out)

40

The last weeks at House Church, we've found ourselves worshiping to U2's song 40. Katie brought it to us over a month ago and it's been with us ever since.

Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the LORD....

Summer has officially started

This week, I was assigned to inspect the construction of a sanitary sewer line in Johnson County. Please read: week in the sun... yellow hard hat... middle of suburbia... work boots & jeans... Starbucks within walking distance... not terrible, but also not exciting. at all.

Last night, I realized that, over the course of the week, I have developed the official mark of summer for me:

the farmer's tan.

Every year, I declare that I am going to spend enough time in the sun to at least break even. I don't necessarily have to be all that tan, per se, I just don't want to be that guy with the line that goes from tan(ish) to immediately pale. Yet, year after year, I fail. I think this week officially screwed me for the rest of the summer.

Farmer's tan: 15
Rest of my white self: 3


Damn.



(and yes, Katie, Tyler, Nicole, or anyone else in Lawrence, this would be a totally appropriate time to make yet another jab at my brief stint in the tanning booth. BASE TAN people, and no, I didn't get burned in the Bahamas, thank you very much.)

I've been listening to Nine Inch Nails? WHAT?

The alternative blog title would have been: "because I'm really not an up-and-coming yuppie."

I heard Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" on the radio a couple of days ago and loved it. I was actually quite shocked to learn it was them.


What can I say... I don't regularly listen to NIN.


I've listened to this song over and over the last days and can't get enough. Though it's dark and somewhat depressing, I find it deeply stirring. I appreciate how raw the song is both in lyric and music. Trent Reznor is expressing, in a rather beautiful way, a deep and alarming pain.

Our world can be pretty fake at times.

And so, I gravitate to things I find authentic. Even if they're messy and dismal.




Also, for a little bit less dark and a whole lot better music video, check out Johnny Cash's cover.

soul listening...

I've been on a Robert Kiyosaki kick of late (Rich Dad, Poor Dad and now Cashflow Quadrant). Wow, I feel a bit like an up-and-coming yuppie admitting these are the books I'm reading. Regardless, I plug them because they're legit.

On leadership, Kiyosaki says:

To be great leaders, rich dad stressed that we first had to be great listeners. If you did not listen to the words a person used, you would not be able to feel their soul. If you did not listen to their soul, you would never know to whom you were talking.

I find this to be a stirring and profound thought... feel their soul... listen to their soul. I appreciate the provocative imagery.

My favorite way of thinking of the soul is that it is the part of us which integrates our other parts and brings singular coherency. It is that which allows life to be a thing, rather than things; it integrates the various dimensions of a human being: our body, our thoughts, our emotions, our will, and our relationality. (thanks to Dallas Willard for some initial ideas surrounding the soul and a few friends who helped expand the concept).

As I think about feeling someone's soul, listening to their soul, I am struck with a captivating picture of fully hearing someone. To listen to another's soul is to hear them in all that they're saying, somehow putting together the often complimentary, often contradictory messages of emotion, worldview, body language, passion, words, etc. that they impart. Thus, I fully agree with Kiyosaki, to listen to or feel someone's soul, is to truly know them. And my hunch is that as we embark on this challenging task, we will find ourselves not only understanding other's with greater clarity, but also possessing for them greater compassion, acceptance and, ultimately, love.

cleansing

I just got back from a run in the rain, one of my favorite activities. Though, I must confess: I never remember liking it until I go; it always seems like it will be such a drag. Beforehand, my thought is always: "crap, it's raining. There was a small possibility I was going to run this morning. But now, if I don't, I'll be a wuss for allowing a lame thing like getting wet stop me." I then proceed to change, put on my shoes, and hit the streets.

and, i always love it.

(I especially love running through puddles. There's something freeing about finding your stride and just running; sometimes that lands you in the center of a puddle, sometimes you barely avoid them, but either way it doesn't matter: you're wet regardless.)

What I most appreciate about running in the rain is the sense of cleansing it evokes. For me, the combination of physical exertion and external wet induces a strong feeling of purification. Pushing your body in activity, you release some of the stress and stiffness that has built within your muscles. Your sweat helps release toxins. And all the while, the rain cools the muscles and washes away the sweat encouraging a longer, harder run. That system, that interaction, between body and nature is part of what makes the experience so profound for me; this freshness that you feel is both something you initiate and something you receive.

As someone prone to needing a large volume of purification in multiple areas, I appreciate this living metaphor. I believe that, in partaking, I am actually going through a cleansing process deeper than just my body. At the very least, it reminds me of the cleansing I have needed and have received, as well as the cleansing I do need and hopefully one day will obtain.

My latest obsession...

LOST, obviously! BUT, my 2nd favorite...

www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

i heard about it in Rome. it's been visited everyday for the last 3 or 4. multiple times.


potentially offensive? maybe (i'm a pretty poor judge).
hilarious? absolutely!!


(for extra fun... start reading people's comments)

my life is LOST: Pt. 4

Today, I was blegged* to keep up my stream of consciousness LOST blogging. I'm not certain if I will, but since it was likened to one of my favorite books, I've at least gotta post a couple more times.

What is happening?

So Jack's father is dead... but the casket is empty... and Jack is just wandering around the island? Lock is kinda creepy, kinda cool, kinda creepy. So that's 2 parts creepy, 1 part cool. Where did that crazy monster thing go? Why is Sawyer so lame? How does Kate transform from supervillian, so bad that we don't even know what she did yet, to superfox, Jack's little helper who secretly is digging him?

WHAT IS HAPPENING???

* Im sad to discover that Nick did not, in fact, invent the word "bleg." Bummer. I thought it was original!

my life is LOST: Pt. 3

Jack said it well, "It doesn't matter, Kate, who we were, what we did before this, before the crash. It doesn't really. Three days ago, we all died. We should all be able to start over."

Subtitle: Kate's innocent.

my life is LOST: Pt. 2

Pilot 2 of 2... done. This is worse than I thought.

Jack continues to remain a badass.
Sawyer happens to be a jackass.
Kate in handcuffs... oh no, I thought she might be the One!

my life is LOST

I just finished the Pilot (1 of 2, of course) of LOST. I've avoided it for years knowing that I would become addicted, as I did with Alias, and 24 previously. Yep, Im hooked. I love Jack & Kate and have a feeling I will be stuck in the web evermore with each passing show. And, ABC has all the episodes streaming in HD on their website.

I'm screwed.


Also, noteworthy from this weekend: yesterday I made the best homemade pizza known to man. As good or better than CPK. Now, rather than spend money out, you can use that same amount to drive to Lawrence and enjoy it at my place.*

* No, this is not an invitation. Merely a boast. And a subtle hit on high gas prices.

Happy Birthday America!!

May you celebrate it by blowing things up, eating delicious grilled meat products, and enjoying a day with friends!

Oh, and maybe toss the Frisbee for a bit...

Rome 3: the music

I have a tendency towards over saturation with music.

I get a song in my head and I play it over and over and ovvvvver again. This is wonderful for me, who happens to love that particular song on that particular day/week/month, and absolutely terrible for anyone who takes long road trips with me, comes over for coffee or a beer at my apartment, etc.

One of the by-products of my music addiction is that I end up marking events, trips, people with songs. I don't really mean to; it just sorta happens. And so, this trip to Rome was marked by a little Muse, a little OneRepublic, and a whole lotta Phil Rice.*


If a certain friend had done his job (he failed miserably, not even picking up on the hint that I posted on his blog wall post...), the trip would have been marked by Coldplay's latest Album: Viva la Vida.

It wasn't. But here's the song I've got on repeat:

(or if you want better quality with the lyrics... another hookup)


* Phil Rice is a worship leader for Norman Community Church, in Norman, OK. It's a church plant of Bridgeway and our team to Rome was composed of both NCC and BW folks. The recording I have is live worship led by Phil at Bridgeway. It's pretty crazy. If you want it on your iPod, let me know; I'd love to distribute... and it's totally legit.

Rome 2: premonitions

(you would think that a blog titled "premonitions" would be the 1st post about Rome, but apparently I things of order do out...)


Almost immediately upon hearing of the Rome trip, I had a sense that part of my trip was to take a few days and travel on my own. I can't quite describe this feeling, but I can say it was felt immediately and firmly. My thought process went something like this:

Rome. Awesome! I can't wait to go back to Rome with Zak and see the Pattersons and the Lyles and... oh, crap. I'm supposed to travel on my own aren't I? Oh no.

Maybe it was being the new kid alone at the lunch table one too many times or just an over gravitation towards people, but for years, I have pretty well avoided being in public places alone. Yes, I definitely show up places 15 minutes "fashionably" late to ensure not being the first one there. I love solitude, but I love private solitude. My worst nightmare would probably entail doing "group" activities by myself... dinner at a busy restaurant followed by bowling and then hanging out at Sheridans with my concrete... all alone. Utterly terrifying.

As the trip came closer and closer, I continued to feel that possibly the most important part of the trip was going to be the days by myself. I had no clue where to go or what to do, and frankly didn't feel any of that was important. What was important was me being faithful to this internal guidance.


The days leading up to my trip, I had lunch with a friend, Craig, who patiently heard the story of facing my irrational fear. Surprisingly, he got really excited for me and the possibilities in that time. He then explained his gravitation towards the unknown, how he ever attempts to put himself in places where his back is against the wall and he has to use his wit to get free.

Those words stuck with me.

I would say they actually flavored my trip. My side trip into London during my layover. The mini-adventures in Rome. The enjoyable days in Florence & Orvieto by myself.

There was something in these times, and on this trip as a whole, that unlocked a boyish gravitation towards the unknown. It's gone latent for quite some time, but, I think it's beginning to show it's beautifully, terrifying head!


(this is a picture from the top of Florence's Duomo that I took right before jumping a train to Orvieto.)

Rome 1: the flight over & England

Last night, 3 planes, 27 hours & a sleepless night in London's Gatwick airport, I arrived in Kansas City. Luke picked me up and we immediately hit up Chili's for a burger (Sadly, it's true. I wanted a burger and Chili's somehow was what I wanted. Luke laughed at me, but was gracious about the whole experience).

I don't really know what to share or where to begin with this trip, so I've decided to share it in a few installments...



To save some cash, I decided to fly over to London and then catch a regional airline to Rome, EasyJet (think Southwest airlines with annoyingly-bright orange clad flight attendants). As a result, I had an 8 hour layover on my way to Rome.... and a 12 hour on my return (more in a latter post). Rather than spend a lame afternoon at the airport's Starbucks, I spontaneously took a train into London to take a look around.



Though not entirely sure what I saw, it was a great afternoon; definitely the right way to start the trip. Here are a few of my favorite pictures...

!ROMA!

For those of you who have not heard (i.e. all you blog-stalkers out there. all 2.4 of you), I am going back to Rome in a few weeks. I will be there for 7 days with a 3 day self-guided adventure into Tuscany (which I have yet to plan...).

Last summer, I lived in Rome with 5 friends for 7 weeks. 3 guys, 3 girls including 1 pregnant married couple... who found out they were pregnant 2 weeks into the trip (Jess was a saint to endure both us & Rome for her first trimester)... all in a 900 sq. ft. apartment. Yes, Micah and I definitely shared the pullout couch in the living room. We were there to connect with friends from Origins Rome and try to get a feel for what God was doing in Rome.


About a month ago, I found out that Zak (husband to Jess) was heading back to Rome with another group but for a shorter amount of time. Upon hearing the news, I immediately called him asking/demanding that I be allowed to join them. His response: make it happen! take off work and buy your ticket!

So I did.


I'll try to post some pictures or share some stories once I'm back, but for now, I'll wet your palette:

Highlight of Death Cab

Ending their 5-song encore with Transatlanticism. Nothing less than magical.

It was a lot like this... except in Kansas City... outside... and way way cooler live...

Ben Gibbard & immediacy

A few weeks ago I read an article written by Death Cab frontman, Ben Gibbard, on Paste magazine's website. In it he briefly discusses the idea of development, that it took time and rough patches for the band, and for him, to be what/who they are today. Here are some of his words:

I can unequivocally say that I’m so glad we were one of the last bands to break before the Internet got crazy. We actually had some time to develop. I hate hearing people say, “I went and saw this band—everybody’s saying they’re really great—but I went and saw them last night and they weren’t any good live.” You know why they weren’t good? Because they’ve never done more than five shows in a row, and now they’re two weeks into a tour—their first national tour. They don’t know how to get to the shows, they don’t know how to sleep right, they don’t know where to find food. They don’t understand how to make a set list somebody cares about. You can’t blame these bands for not being great yet. We were terrible when we first started playing. Our shows were so fucking boring.

One of the things I continue to notice in our culture is an increasing orientation around immediacy, how we rarely give time for the paint to dry much less allow something to actually grow and develop. Everything must be completed immediately, and as soon as it is done it must become public. And so we are in a constant state of both discovery, because new things are being shared all the time, and creation, because we must share to stay relevant with everyone else's sharing (my thoughts on the impact this trend has on such things like longevity, sustainability, quality, etc. will have to hold off until a later time). Prolific blogging and an overwhelming amount of YouTube videos attest to this, but for me an area it seems deeply evident is conversation. Again and again, I leave discourse feeling that much of what was shared (including, sadly, my input) were sound-bites for the moment: small thoughts that were punchy & intelligent, but had little bearing on actual real life: how one might go about living.

As one orienting his life around Jesus' perspective of the world, I can't help but notice how much of the way Jesus describes life is through agricultural parables: story after story of seeds being planted, fields being harvested, waiting for fruit to appear on the trees. In a world of immediacy, where emphasis is on being the most recent to produce, I am struck that Jesus' perspective seems to be opposite: plant, nurture and wait, for good things take time. Over and over, I need to be reminded that all the rich things in life, from music to character to ideas take time. It is time that allows them to develop into their fullest potential and it is time that helps us to appreciate them for what they are.


Oh, and the Death Cab show tonight... amazing. So much so that I immediately came home and blogged about it!


(As a confession: the pressure of immediate production was one of the reasons I pulled back from this blog. I found myself ever attempting to force intelligent, humorous ideas without giving myself the space to allow them to mature naturally. What a drag that was... errr is!)

Thoughts on Alaska

My friend JD is moving to Alaska today to work at a swank, remote fishing lodge til October. Whenever he talks about his time all I can think about is this:

Have a great time my friend. As Tyler prayed: may you do cartwheels on the edge!!

Best Ending to a Day...

After a really long day (such as today...) nothing refreshes me like a haircut with the delightful Amy K, and then watching Wilco on the top of my friends' roof as they play in a park across the street.

My highlight was "Misunderstood" at the start of their encore (does it still count as an encore if it's 5 songs long?). It was a little bit like this...

Forced to Blog

I have a problem with words... I use big ones when they 'sound' like they fit despite my not really knowing the definition... I use words in such a poetic fashion that they don't make sense together... or, after using a word that's meaning is defined by the word itself, I go ahead and define it in my next breath...

Observance of this trait, led one of my favorite families to coin the term "Grahamism."


A few days ago, I received a birthday wish including a threat to post 'Grahamism' into Wikipedia:

Grahamism (greyuhm-isum)

Though Grahamisms have been around since the dawn of time, they have only recently been defined with such clarity. Most people have experienced this phenomenon in their lives. Some people experience Grahamisms with greater frequency, as is true with the person whose name was used to define this phenomenon. Others never or rarely experience Grahamisms as is true of the person who penned said phenomenon's name. So, what is a Grahmism?

Simply put, a Grahamism is a verbal faux pax. Examples of this are as simple as the inaccurate use of a word and as complex as stating something profoundly obvious or combining ideas that simply do not go together. Some examples of Grahamisms that have been witnessed are the following:
- "I heard visually ..."
- "What time is it?" ... "You mean now?"
- Pronouncing the word Poseidon as "POY-suh-dinn."
- "The fan has a wall mount that you can use to mount it on the wall."

Naming a verbal faux pax as a Grahamism identifies that it is funny, poignant, endearing, and representative of one's love and affection for the errant.

Grahamisms, a gift to the world, but thankfully not Wikipedia!!


(Guesses for which 2 of the 4 examples are ones that I actually have done?)

and yes, I did slightly change the quoted text to make it read a little better, make sense, etc. Just so that no one gets upset.

it's not me, it's you

Dearest blog,

The time has come for us to take a break. Don't worry, it won't be forever. I just think it's good for us to have a little space. It will be better for the both of us. It's not me, it's you.

I love to write; I really do. I love sharing my thoughts and ideas. I love telling funny stories and posting pictures. I love linking in my current favorite songs or sharing a movie clip that really grabs me. But I feel such pressure from you; I must post, everyday. And my posts must be amazing: thoughtful and funny, provocative and imaginative. You're always there, waiting, wanting more and more and more. And I just can't keep doing this. It's not me, it's you.

And so, we need this break. It won't be forever; just for a season. I haven't been letting my ideas percolate enough before throwing them out for the world to see. I need to focus on my own writing; the writing that is deep within and is my secret. You put me in production mode, dearest blog, and I need to cut myself off. Really, it's not me, it's you.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll post every now and then. A picture or two when a favorite person visits. A funny story that just has to be shared. A song that has gotten so much play on my iPod it only seems logical to give it a post. But by and large, space is good. I'm sorry. But, I do mean it, it's not me, it's you.

you mean so much to me,
graham

new. words.

i love words. silly to say, but yes, i love words. they're so... so... communicatory.

i also love new things. even if they're actually old in and of themselves, the fact they're new to me means i love them. example: music that's been out awhile, but i'm just now listening to it. has the rage already passed and i'm way behind the times? absolutely. do i still embrace it like i was the first? of course!


not surprising, i love new words. and so today, i share with you new words, actually... a phrase... a hybrid... and a word.

the phrase: Mugging Down - (verb) 'making out while hugging; kissing passionately.' I heard it in this context (from a nameless new Nashville friend): 'I kissed a boy last night... just a kiss... we weren't mugging down or anything!'

the hybrid: Sexting - (verb) .... i'll let Luke explain

the word: Intinction - (noun) 'the action of dipping the bread in the wine at a Eucharist so that the communicant receives both together.' My favorite way of taking communion also has a technical term associated with it? And I thought everyone just appreciated the bread being a little bit softened by the grape juice/wine!

Anyone want to share their new favorite word?

airplane conversations

In August, I moved to Lawrence, KS. A wonderful town. Frankly, I don't consider it Kansas; I have to remind myself I live in Kansas. Artistic. Creative. Liberal. Environmentally & socially conscious. Diverse. An emphasis on intellectualism & the academic. Internationally aware. Expressly postmodern. In so many ways, Lawrence feels right to me; it feels like home.

I came to Lawrence on a hunch that God is relevant here... still relevant here. And my hunch includes the notion that to invite people to interact with God & spirituality is to use new words, different metaphors, fresh practices. I do believe that Jesus fits in this place, but maybe not in a way that people thinks he does, or in the ways people are trying to make him fit.

I am a part of a House Church in Lawrence. And we're figuring out what it means to express things just a little bit different.


When Annie and I were initially figuring each other out, she asked me a question I appreciated, but wasn't sure how it answer: 'When you tell a stranger on an airplane that you're a house (church) pastor, do they turn away awkwardly? Or are people receptive and curious?'

I think I responded that people either are intrigued to know more or quickly change the subject. But hey, isn't that always the response when you begin discussing spirituality with a stranger!?!


As I think about the question more, I would say the overall response has been in one of three categories: indifference, misunderstanding, or stereotyping. I must say, I deeply appreciate those precious few who genuinely turn to me and ask: 'interesting. tell me more about that.' It's not easy pressing into the unknown, attempting to do something fresh and a little bit outside the box. Most of the time, I flip between two thoughts: this really is silly & unnecessary... or... yes, this really is good & true, and I'm not doing a damn thing about it.


A few weeks ago, I read these words on Rustin's blog. Absolute life to my soul:

“Experimental groups seeking to engage the Christian faith in a postmodern context will often lack the resources, profile or success record of the Boomer congregations. By definition, they are new, untried, relatively disorganized and fearful of self-promotion. They reject the corporate model of their Boomer forebears, and thus do not appear, according to existing paradigms, to be significant. But don’t be fooled. Somewhere in the genesis and genius of these diverse groups is hidden the future of Western Christianity. To dismiss them is to throw away the seed of our survival.”

–Gerard Kelly, RetroFuture (as quoted in The Shaping of Things to Come)

Maybe somewhere in our genesis and genius good, true things will be planted.

many thanks to micah

While in Rome, Micah, my pullout couch sharing compadre, did a wonderful job expanding my musical horizons. Limbeck should be noted.


The group that really captured me was Arcade Fire, specifically their Neon Bible album.

Their song Intervention has been on repeat for the last 7 months since leaving Rome. With lyrics like this, how can you not love it...?

Been working for the church
While your life falls apart.
Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"

Intervention, great song. Even better, Rainn Wilson introducing them on SNL before playing.

Enjoy.

Oh, and here are the complete lyrics if interested.

holding out

When originally sharing our pictures, Annie and I decided to downplay our amazingness, and the fact that, frankly, we're both pretty big deals. As a result, we asked the lovely Ashley P to slightly edit the photos.

Today, we share with you one of the originals:



Sorry B. Didnt mean to playa hate.


(a special shout-out to K-Dub and her amazing photoshop skillz...)

Even in Lawrence

Tuesday evening, driving home on Mass, I stopped behind an old, rusty Dodge truck. On the left side of the Dodge sign it read: DON't. On the right: JESUS.

Yep: DON'T DODGE JESUS


(sorry, no picture available; i didn't think of it in time)

No Artists Named Patty

I'm not sure when this happened, but sometime between the age of 12 and 23, I vowed I would never listen to any singers with 'Patty' in their name. I'm not certain where this came from, but I have a hunch it stems from an over-saturation of Sandy Patty as a youth.

Today, I humbly acknowledge that I was wrong. Patty Griffin. Oh my.

Nashvegas Pt. 2: a Review

Sarah informed me Sunday afternoon that I wasn't to use "Nashvegas" any more. Tragic.

(for reference, it comes from a bumper sticker Annie proudly displays: "Viva Nashvegas! Eat more rhinestones" uhhh. ok?)

For all those interested, Nashville was delightfully refreshing. Honestly, I was quite amazed by how much I appreciated the culture and I LOVED the architecture; there definitely were a few dozen houses I wanted.

It was great to be with Annie, meet her friends, see her place (great apartment girl!), eat good food, enjoy nice weather, drink the best hot chocolate I've ever tasted (coincidentally, also the most expensive!), but my favorite was Saturday night... the Bluebird.


The Bluebird Cafe was amazing; absolutely splendid. I have a deep love for live music and a deeper love for good musicians... and the Bluebird definitely showcased both! For two hours four musicians took turns playing their music. My favorite was Josh Stevens; Annie's was Meg Allison (also present Amy Loftus & Justin Thompson); Josh & Meg accompanied each other on every song, which was pretty tight.

So, if you're even in Nashville, hit up the Bluebird, but call ahead and reserve your spot ($3 reservation fee, plus a minimum order of $7 per person. There are also free spots, but get there early: first come, first serve).


Viva Nashvegas! I will be back.

Nashvegas

Once again I find myself at the airport awaiting a flight. I love traveling. It's probably the sense of adventure or possibility; the unknown.

It doesn't hurt that Im off to Nashville to see Annie.


For years, I've had two distinct stereotypes of Nashville; both of them music related. Since Day 1 Annie has been filling my mind with propaganda attempting to dissuade my assumptions. Im looking forward to seeing what it's really like.


This is the run-down of whats happening this weekend:

Tonight... dinner at the Rose Pepper: 2 margaritas and an order of guacamole please... Yeah, we better make that a pitcher! (it's been a long week)

Tomorrow... hanging and then a show at the Bluebird Cafe in the evening. Right now, this is what Im most excited about. I dig live music and apparently this venue is quintessential Nashville. I even brought a pearl snap shirt for the occasion!
Afterwards we're attending the birthday celebration to top all birthday celebrations. It better be amazing Sarah!

Sunday... bumming around Nashville and then City Church. I head out late Sunday night.

I'm sure this is trip #1 of many, but I'll let yall know how it goes. Maybe.

no filter

I have a lot of respect for my friends who understand boundaries and the importance of filtering themselves socially. I've never really understood those boundaries, nor have I felt it necessary to filter myself socially.

What line?

Oh that line. Whoops.


With that being said... I probably shouldn't post this video. If it wasn't so funny, I wouldn't. But it is, in fact, hilarious and therefore it is my responsibility and privilege to share.



Isn't it too bad that Bud Light sucks!?!


(a special thanks to two of my new favorites for sharing the goods).

'yeah, we should have seen Jumper' - Nick

A few weeks ago, I had a very embarrassing conversation with Amy K. (who cuts my hair oh so nice) in which I bumbled around and couldn't name a single movie nominated for the Oscars. It was so painful that Amy eventually cut me off declaring: 'I can't talk with you about this anymore.'

Last night, I took a step towards redeeming myself and watched There Will be Blood with Nick (In actuality, it was Nick's idea to watch TWBB; my vote was for Jumper. Guess which one of us is pursuing his PhD).

After walking out of the movie and asking my initial: WTF? What was that? I have come up a few thoughts/conclusions surrounding There Will be Blood:

1. That music was creepy. CREEPY. Nick described it as 'pure stress.' Yep. And I never want to hear it again.

2. There definitely was blood.

3. Daniel Day-Lewis better win the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role. Watching his performance is reason enough to see the movie. Seriously. He was Amazing.

epidemic

my favorite: 'you may have cooties... and not even know it!'

recipe for... disaster!

good idea: resurrect the Knight Rider franchise.








better idea: use a mustang shelby GT500 as KIT.







best idea: make it into a crappy 80 minute made-for-tv movie with far too much CGI, trite lines, and an over used plot line.

SERIOUSLY?!? NO!!

who needs eHarmony?

my friend sarah called earlier today. the meat of her message was basically this: "I'm calling to find out who the hell 'my name is annie' is on your blog. and, i think i need an explanation..."

sarah lives in Africa. Uganda to be exact.

if you're not receiving phone calls from your friends halfway around the world, you probably don't have a good story.

i do. and her name is annie.


annie lives in nashville pursuing a few beautiful dreams: singing harmony & deepening her already rich songwriting ability. i was introduced to annie by my friend nick who, at a new year's party, asked: 'hey man, do you know annie parsons? this girl randomly wrote on my blog. all i know is that she's beautiful, has some sort of kansas city connection, and is a Christian. i thought you would know her.'

my response: 'yeah nick, i do. because all beautiful, kansas city connected Christians are on a listserv together...'

(this really wasn't my response, but i officially tell the story with this wit inserted into that moment. my real response of 'uhhhhhhhhhhh. no.' doesn't quite seem as good!).


but yeah, i do know annie parsons. or, at least, i do now.


(mad props to ashley p. for the pics.

if you're in the area and need some pictures taken... wedding... engagement... senior year... 'i like my dog and so we need to have some photos of us playing in the park together'.... faux-engagement... you would be absolutely stupid to not call ashley & jeremy. no really, you would.)

irony

Last weekend I purchased a paper shredder to shred some receipts, documents, etc. At $10, it seemed like the right thing to do. After christening her 'Sherry the Shredder' and 5 minutes of glorious shredding, Sherry died.

And what did I discover was part of Sherry's glorious shredding tenure?

Definitely the receipt showing my purchase of Sherry the Shredder. Perfect.


(for the sake of irony, I wish the story ended here. It doesn't.

My roommate Dave suggested I unplug Sherry and let her cool down a bit. Sherry's one hot shredder! After about 10 minutes of cool-down I turned Sherry back on. And she worked!! My response was to yell 'SHERRY'S ALIVE!!!' and give Dave a double high-five.

It was the biggest high-five Dave has ever received, which has more to say about the ferociousness of my high five and not the quality of high-five Dave has thus received.)

because Nick & I really are friends

I received an email from my friend Nick yesterday titled 'I'm trying to remain apolitical on my blog':

So you should post this

http://lessig.org/blog/2008/02/the_beauty_of_political_remix.html

Now despite our past need for reconciliation, Nick is my boy and so I am more than happy to oblige (and it's helpful that the video is pretty funny). Apparently I'm not too concerned about the apoliticalness of my blog!

(and yes, for those of you curious, Nick does have the eHarmony touch & I did get a date out it!)