Recap

I haven't had much to say lately, here or in real life. A lot of time and energy has been going towards work. Sometimes that has been good and sometimes not so much. I've gotten some things accomplished that I can be proud of, but it is still work, and it is still a drain.

Musically, I haven't made it to many shows. I haven't found too many new bands that I love. I've been listening to the Mountain Goats too much, which is a good thing. I've also been listening to a lot of Damien Jurado, which isn't really a good thing. Not that the music isn't amazing, there's just a certain heartbreaking quality to it that draws me in when I'm mopey. I just downloaded his new album but haven't been able to listen to it yet. New albums from three of my favorite just came out. The bands in order of decreasing enjoyment of the new albums, The National, The New Pornographers, and The Hold Steady.

I sold an old toy and bought a new toy a month or two ago. That camera is the most expensive, non-practical thing I have ever bought myself. I'm quite enjoying it, but I just need to find the time to work on actually using it. I just got an 85mm lens that I'm itching to get some good use out of.

I turned in my paperwork to get a passport last week. For our fifth anniversary, we're going to have our first anniversary adventure outside of the US. We'll be heading to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to hang out at a resort for 6 days. My natural tendency to overload vacations with sights of new places will have to be overridden. It will just be a week of relaxation. Maybe it will be good for me.

Goodbye to a Friend

A few hours ago, I received word that a friend and mentor of mine had passed away. There are few people in my life I can say had more of an impact on me than Bob Mayfield. I spent a lot of hours at the Aggie BSM during my days in Aggieland, and many of the best of those hours were marked by time spent with Bob. I grew up a lot during those first three years. Bob was used in my life at a time where I needed someone who had more faith in me than I did myself. He stepped out and saw something in me that I didn't know existed. He didn't care how shy and introverted I was. He put me out of my comfort zone and then stood by me all along the way.

I will always treasure our conversations. Topics ranged from music to scripture to family to school to O Brother Where Art Thou? and always included a humor and wisdom that God truly used to change me. Bob showed me a different kind of minister who was marked by the hand of his maker in such a unique way. He didn't hide himself, and I loved him for that. He went beyond the bounds of a job. He jumped in the car for a random trip to Houston. He had us over to his house. He stood up for us when the towing company took our cars from the BSM lot. He made us laugh. He helped us understand what it really meant to walk with God both by his example and by his teaching. He listened to me and shared with me in good times and bad. He was a father away from home to me and hundreds of other old Ags.

I keep fighting back tears remembering my friend. I am extremely blessed that God put Bob in my life during a time when I could have gone a million different directions. I will miss him more than I can put words to right now. My heart aches for Pam and Max. I pray that in the coming days they will be comforted in ways that no person can provide. Thanks for sharing Bob with us.

Five Years

Five years ago this weekend, I signed my lease on my first apartment in a new city. A few days later, Dallas became my home. I became a computer programmer. I was on my own in a big city. I was mostly self sufficient. All in all, I sort of became an adult.

My first year was quite a change. I realized that I am pretty well suited for city life. I like movement. I like variety. I like the sort of adventure that comes with living in a city. I spent a lot of evenings that first year wandering around the Metroplex. I found my way around pretty well. I could navigate the entire area based on Half Price Books locations. When I wasn't driving around exploring, I was watching movies. I watched a lot of movies that year. I spent a lot of weekends on the road to College Station. I didn't really get to know many folks that first year. I had fun and wouldn't trade that time for anything, but it was a lonely time. I got used to being by myself. I went to concerts by myself. I went to dinner by myself. I spent six hours on the road most weekends by myself.

Things have changed a lot since those days. I got married. I quit that first job and started a new one. I bought a house. I got a dog. I became a Mavs fan. Life moves faster now. I don't seem to have as much time as I did. I have changed in a lot of ways. Some good, some bad. I try to be a good husband/worker/friend/son/brother/follower. I succeed at those things to varying degrees at different times.

Who knows where I will be in another five years. I hope that I am able to love and communicate with my wife better than I do now. I hope that I am able to contribute better at work in ways that suit my gifts better. I hope that I am steps closer to finding my place. Until then, I can only be thankful for where I've been, where I'm at. I have been blessed, and regardless of how I see things in individual moments, that fact does not change.

Recent Playlist:
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
New York Dolls - 'Cause I Said So
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - S/T
The New Year - The New Year
Over the Rhine - Ohio
Mount Righteous - When the Music Starts
Marching Band - Spark Large
The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
Isis - Wavering Radiant
Regina Spektor - Soviet Kitsch
Eef Barzelay - Lose Big
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
Subtle - Exiting Arm
The Choir Practice - S/T
Smog - Burning Kingdom
Bottom of the Hudson - Fantastic Hawk
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Other Lives - S/T
Ride - Nowhere
Telekinesis - S/T
Slint - Spiderland
Mates of State - Team Boo

Catching Up

It has been a while since we got back from Kauai. It was a great trip. We enjoyed getting out to see some more of the island. I could certainly move there if given the option. Some new favorites were found...Gilligan's Beach Cottage, Hukilau Lanai, Hamura's Saimin. Some old favorites were revisited....Wishing Well Shave Ice, Hanalei in general, the Tip Top Cafe. I really love the island. The pace, the fish, the mountain always on one side, the ocean always on the other.

Between lots of work, watching too much of the basketball playoffs, and a rebirth of cd selling, amongst other things, time has flown. I haven't accomplished much, but I've certainly felt busy.

I have made it out to quite a few shows since I have been back. Here's some reviews in ten words or less:
David Bazan - Low key house show. Great stories and songs.
Morrissey - Tons of swagger. Fun crowd.
My Bloody Valentine - Extreme volume, texture, atmosphere, and power. My clothes shook.
Over the Rhine - Stunningly beautiful. Perfect evening of music.

Return to Paradise

Tomorrow afternoon, I'll be hopping on a plane with my amazing wife and heading back to a paradise we first visited 2 1/2 years ago. I'm looking forward ot a few of the things that we really enjoyed last time. Some pineapple packages at the Tip Top Cafe. Chasing some puffer fish while snorkeling. Seeing waterfalls. Eating lots of fresh fish. Listening to the ocean when I wake up and go to sleep. I can't wait.

We did get a lot of the sights out of the way last time, so it will be quite a different trip. We are staying in a different area of the island this time. Instead of the south shore at Poipu, we will be on the northeast side of the island at Moloa'a Bay. We are going to be much more prepared to hike. Hopefully the weather will cooperate so we can get out to see some spots more out of the way than last time. I'll be bringing my camera for even more pictures than I took last time. I'm sure I'll have more to say once we get back, but I'd better get back to work on getting everything ready.

Wovenhand

It was a very welcome surprise that David Eugene Edwards came back to town last night. It hasn't even been a year since I drove over to Fort Worth way too late on a work night to see Wovenhand. This time, it was a nice short drive down to Deep Ellum to see them at Club Dada. Like their discs, their live show keeps evolving and growing. The first time, it was DEE by himself. Last time, he had added Ordy Garrison on the drums. Now he has added former 16 Horsepower bass player Pascal Humbert to the mix. His playing was very distinct on all of the old 16 Horsepower songs, so I was kind of curious to see how it would The extra kick on the low end filled things out very nicely.


The setlist and intensity were just as great as ever. Chest of Drawers was missed, but it was nice to hear some of the Ten Stones songs fleshed out live. It was nice to see a larger crowd turn out to see the band this time. Deep Ellum as a whole may have been pretty dead last night, but the crowd inside Club Dada got a great treat.


Also as an aside, it was my first concert trip with my new camera. I had a lot of fun taking pictures. I had to resist the urge to take pictures the whole time instead of just enjoying the show though. I need some practice, but it is a fun hobby.

Small Escapes

I have never been much of a fan of action movies. I'd much rather see life portrayed as it is or with a nice comic or poetic twist. Not much about a lot of things blowing up and/or chase scenes appeals to me. I don't know how much that says about my personality, but I don't really like unrealistic escapism. When I want to escape, I choose more realistic things. Lately, that has come in all sorts of forms.

I have been reading a lot. I have blown through about six books so far since the beginning of the year. I have found that by not being quite as ambitious in my choices; I have been able to get a lot more read. I have been enjoying memoir type books. I find that even when I don't relate to or don't really like the writer, I somehow enjoy hearing what he or she has to say. Chuck Klosterman best embodies this. Annoying guy...I've read three of his books in the past few months. It is one of my favorite hobbies, people watching, in book form. The fiction I have read has been pretty good stuff too though. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close really got me. Its tone and story telling devices were entertaining, but still very poignant. Plainsong by Kent Haruf had two of my favorite characters from any book I have ever read. I really admire people that can tell a story be it true or fiction.

The music of David Wilcox has hit that need for sometimes poetic and sometimes humorous escape. I enjoy a lot of his music, but I have been pretty stuck on the song Eye of the Hurricane. It's probably the closest thing he has ever had to a hit. The particular version of the song that I can't quit listening to is from his album Live Stories and Songs. It is just a him singing and playing guitar with a very nice background of a violin. It starts with a short story about the meaning of the song. He says it's a song about addiction. I only sort of truly understand addiction, but I very much understand the idea of thinking I am in control of things that I am not. Staying inside what I know is calm and think is safe even when life is moving very fast around me something I can certainly relate to. It always ends somehow though and the reality of the situation has to be addressed.

I haven't been watching a whole lot of movies, but I have kept up with a few tv shows. as been Friday Night Lights. I don't quite know why I have latched on to this show. It somehow balances overly dramatic high school soap opera with some of the most authentic portrayals of relationships of any television show I have ever watched. That is what has kept me watching when I could care less about high school football. The conflicts resolve themselves more like they do in real life than your typical show. Sure there are some cliche's. Smash finally made it to play college football. Saracen got benched, but I somehow figure he will end up the season as a hero. Probably that hero story will end with him ending up with Julie. Regardless of what happens, the getting there is fascinating and really well done. The Taylors are portrayed as a real family. Arguements and all. It is a refreshing thing to see.

Life has needed some small escapes. Things are going well, but the path to getting there hasn't necessarily been smooth. I'm thankful for the strength to face things, and also for the little escapes.

Just Finished Reading:
The Last Picture Show - Larry McMurtry
Loser Goes First - Dan Kennedy
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
Take the Cannoli - Sarah Vowell
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
Killing Yourself to Live - Chuck Klosterman

Currently Reading:
Long Way Down - Nick Hornby
The Plot Against America - Phillip Roth

Recent Playlist:
The Violet Burning - Lipstick and Dynamite Wonder
Over the Rhine - Good Dog, Bad Dog
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Twothirthyeight - Regulate the Chemicals
Ben Folds - Ben Folds Live
Common Children - Skywire
Doug Burr - On Promenade
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Travis - The Invisible Band
The Smiths - Meat is Murder
Aireline - Ocean Songs from the Year of the Horse
Embodyment - The Narrow Scope of Things
David Wilcox - Home Again
The Knife - Silent Shout
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View
Garth Brooks - No Fences
The Khrusty Brothers - Jonas Is Back
Morrissey - Bona Drag
David Wilcox - Live Stories and Songs
Fiction Family - Fiction Family
Defiance, Ohio - The Great Depression
A.C. Newman - Get Guilty
Doug Burr - The Shawl