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2006 archive
June 29, 2006
I've been reading Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, and I have to say it's deeply inspiring. Not only have I been reading it, but I've been really blessed to share the experience with a guy from mine and Heather's small group, and we share insights on occasion. I'm inclined to share some of mine.
I've become concerned with the amount of adventure in my life. Other than slaying demons and baddies in Champions of Norrath, there's really not much, honestly. I never considered that really to be a problem until I started reading this book. Turns out this guy
says some stuff that really hits home with me... that guys are created with this restlessness that's only quenched when they find themselves
an adventure to be in, or a battle to fight. Something that tests the mettle of manlihood and proves to you that you're really alive. In that
interest, I've decided to get my Open Water Diver's Certification.
You may think that comes out of nowhere, but it really doesn't for me. I've always loved swimming, bobbing around in the water and puttering
around on the bottom. Digging stuff up. I just never translated that as something that could actually become my personal adventure until now... and it
looks like it really could be. I'm excited at the prospect... and my loving, supportive wife is excited for me. It'll be a stretch at times, I'm sure...
but I can already feel something coming back alive in me that tends to die when one settles into a mundane suburban life that affords not much more than
running rabbits out of your yard as a conquest.
Eldredge says that what plagues men most is boredom. Seems like a minor thing, but in rolling that over, I really don't consider it as such now. I have to
say I am. I mean, I don't hate my life... Heather and I have incredible fun together, and I have some fun hobbies... but as Eldredge would agree, I can't put
all my eggs in her basket. I have to find an adventure of my own that gives me a sense of personal purpose that will translate into my marriage and everything
that I do. And so this is what I do: I become a diver.
My class starts July 31, and I get to spend the time in between saving up the money to pay for it. I'm pumped. I'm looking forward to it in a lot of ways...
not just for the adventure portion, but also because the guy that I'm reading through this book with is an engineer, an experienced diver, and it'll give me
a chance to connect with him. Friends are good to have. It's good to have stuff to do. But it's even better to have a friend to have stuff to do with.
June 20, 2006
After the silence: What's been going on with me?
You should first of all know that I'm posting stuff in a few locations, one of which is my MySpace
account. Even that, I'm not doing much more than usual on, but it's there. I have a coupled others too, but those are sealed for the purpose of protecting the innocent. :)
I've spent the last three months running myself ragged, really. This past weekend was a prime example. I went to Ichthus for my company Thursday through Saturday,
during which I also had to drive back twice for a play practice and a play performance. Sunday, Heather and I ran media, then I put things together to do Journey
for the Harmony Youth on Sunday night. By Monday, I wished I'd had a day off.
It's difficult to find something to give up. I love all this stuff. Plus, Heather and I are now a part of a small group at Harmony, which is more and more
the place I look to for some great spiritual growth, as well as some good company. I love my drama. I love the idea of my music, but that's been suffering since I've
engaged in a steady parade of theater endeavors over the last six months. I want to hang out with friends.
I don't say all of this because I'm unhappy. It's not like I've lost the joy of doing this stuff... I do believe, though, that I've lost the quality of really diving
into something I enjoy by... well, enjoying too much. I'm gluttonous on joy. I'm feasting on joy and it's making me fat.
I'm trying desperately to figure out which ones I want to do more deeply and which ones I have to step back from for a season. Things are becoming clearer. My
decision is just over the horizon.
But about Ichthus.
I was afforded the opportunity via my workplace to have a really great opportunity at Ichthus this year. (If you're not even sure what Ichthus is, it's a
really cool music festival that just happens to be pretty close to where I live
and work. This year, though, since my company had been working with these folks one some stuff, I got to meet some cool bands in person, and also some great people
who work their hearts out to make the festival a success. Among those people were Chris Gardner
(best selling author and future subject of a movie), actor Stephen Baldwin, and very cool nomadic band Psalters. And it was hanging out with
the Psalters that perhaps left the biggest impression. More about that in a separate entry, though... I think I'm actually going to write a rant about it.
On another note... I'll be playing Uncle Sam at Woodford County's July 4th celebration. Come on out and see what I'd look like if I were old. And tricked out with
patriotism. :)
March 31, 2006
I'm another full year older since my last journal entry. What a time it was. I got three parties, actually... one with
our small group, one with a larger group of our friends, and one with just two friends who took us out to the Chop House. Steaks from
that place are a present all in themselves. :) Just 29 this time, so no crisis mode. Actually, I'm looking forward to 30 next year.
I read a quote from Will Smith recently where he said he was in the best shape of his life, life was good, he's in blockbuster movies and
all that. So those are my goals, too. Maybe minus the blockbuster movie. But who knows.
Cinderella-- Heather's and my mutual dramatic offering at Woodford Theater-- opens next week. What a workout it's been. Dancing, singing,
changing clothes... and that's before practice starts. I think we're going to be happy to have some free time again. These things are fun to do,
but man we're tired. Some R and R is most defintely in order this weekend.
The hammer dulcimer front is forming up nicely... I've actually got a lock on my first full song. You'd never guess... it's "Sandstorm" by Darude.
Yeah, that's it... the techno tune. Not exactly a song designed for hammer dulcimer, but it's easy, and it sounds cool. I'm going to try to get with
my buddy Brandon and record it with some congas and hopefully put it up on my myspace
account. And here, too. I just hope it sounds as cool as it does in my head and doesn't end up being, like, the next great internet joke or something.
And on MySpace... apparently I've been missing out. Heather and I both have accounts there now, and it's pretty dang cool, I have to say. Not only
am I now "friends" with a bunch of bands who have no idea who I am, but I've also found a lot of old college friends I hadn't seen in years. What a novel
idea. I didn't plan on doing much with the account, mainly just be able to have the full functionality of the whole system... but my buddy Zak is right, it's
addicting. I'll be in a support group in no time. 
The music for this round: I've discovered Neko Case. What a voice. Her stuff is almost country, but
more reverberating indie rock. "Eccentric" lyrics, I think an Amazon reviewer says... and I'd amen that. I like it, though. Artsy and weird and gives me
something to imagine for myself. The sound and harmony and originality is so rich it'll give you cavities. Hers is one of the best albums I've heard in a
while, though. Heartily, I recommend it.
March 7, 2006
I finally lifted myself up from the abyss of laziness today and decided to write a journal entry... and first think I need to apologize to anyone
who may have been reading our last entries over and over, wondering if mine and Heather's lives were just falling apart. I can assure you that they are very much not.
The Stamping Ground chapter of our lives now fully closed, we can look back on it with fondness and see that we've held on to some very real and
genuine friends from there. We can also see now, as we hoped to when last we wrote, that there would be some beneficial reason for us to leave that church
and move on. I can tell you with confidence, that's happened as well.
We've settled in to a great place called Harmony Christian Church, a bit of an adjustment,
but so great in so many ways. It's a larger church that either Heather or I have ever been involved with, but it's an exciting place to be. The hopes
that I had when we decided to leave SGBC have almost all been realized here... I wanted to focus more heavily on working with the arts, which I'm now doing in
spades. I wanted to stay active. I am. And as much as we miss our friends and kids from Stamping Ground, we have actually started making some new friends at the
new place via our small group.
So see, everything is okay. Heather and I are quite happy where we are.
Also, the drama thing continues to be a big part of my life, and Heather's now as well... I'm finishing up one show in Frankfort, and am about to jump into another.
Heather and I actually get to do a show together at Woodford, where I did "The Adventures of
Tom Sawyer" last year. This time, it's Cinderella, and Heather and I get to partner up for a ballroom dance scene (those of you who know ME, go ahead
and laugh) as well as being townsfolk for the show in general. And, to go ahead and spoil the ending, I play the priest who marries the happy couple at
the end. Seems I have found myself perpetually playing clergymen at Woodford.
Now to turn the page. My mom emailed me this morning to inform me that today would have been my birthday if I had been born on my due date. If she
told me that before, I must not have been listening... but today I think it's pretty cool. So I'm trying to talk Heather into a second birthday party tonight.
If she bites, I doubt I'll get any extra presents. :)
I've been thinking of some new and cool stuff I could do to jump-start my horrible motivation to keep my journal up... so here it is. I'm gonna start including,
free of charge, a random album recommendation every time I write. I have a back log of many, MANY albums that are pretty good, but I just haven't done reviews for,
and I'm too lazy to go back and do them all, so I'll give them a tiny shoutlet at the end of my rambling, ambling entry. Who knows, this could replace the way I do
music reviews altogether.
Today's cool recommended album: Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise (Yes, that's spelled right.) And if you haven't heard of this guy, he's very much worth the time.
An odd mix of instruments, sort of an indie rock meets folk thing. A few songs stick out to me, particularly the "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." one, but the whole thing is a
journey to be taken. Check it out.
January 9, 2006
What a weekend. We sort of rode the roller coaster to the full ranges of emotions, I suppose.... and when the ride stopped
and we were able to catch our collective breath, I decided to sit down and write a bit about it. Not a real good chance I'll have
another one like this anytime soon.
We headed out from Lexington Friday night (with good friends Brandon and Ginger)and ended up in Lake City, about half an hour
north of Knoxville. That split the trip up nicely for the way down. We stayed at a luxurious Days Inn, got up the next morning and
hit IHOP for Breakfast (much to Heather's delight, as she gnawed on chocolate-chip pancakes). Then we were off to the little town
of Black Mountain, North Carolina.
I've seldom felt the kind of frenzied excitement I felt when we passed the green awning of Song of the Wood. Maybe Christmas as a
kid... definitely when I met Heather for the first time. It was just like that. I wasn't quite sure if I was going to go into spasms
or throw up, I was so pumped... luckily I did neither. I played a few instruments in the store (yeah right... I played... I barely
know how the thing is laid out yet) before I finally decided on a
Foss Warbler. It's not fancy, just a bread-and-potatoes model that
has a beautiful sound and a few more notes than I originally thought I was going to be able to go home with. The nice folks at the
store got me a reconditioned stand and a bag with a tiny tear in it to save me some money, and I went home quite happy. Well, not quite
home.
We hung around the town of Black Mountain seeing the sights, checking out the local flavor and smashing our bodies into a tightly packed
coffee shop. Ginger got some cool goblets for her middle school Shakespeare stuff. We ate pizza. After a couple hours of this, we went to the next
treat of the day... a trip to the workshop of the incomparable Jerry Read Smith
. I don't know that I've ever met a guy like this... an artist and a craftsman, not encumbered with any ego, just doing what he does
and being thankful to have the skill and life to be in the middle of it all. Notwithstanding the fact that he builds the instrument that I love,
he's a genuine and authentic person that injects excellence and quality into his work. And a darn friendly fella to boot. In about three years (or two, or one),
I'm going to get him to build me one. He showed us around his recording studio also... which is another work of beauty. I've got to get the pictures that Heather
took up. I know they can't do this place justice, but I hope some small taste of this place can be obtained. Tomorrow, I promise.
We got home Saturday in time to crash, and got up the next morning for our last Sunday at Stamping Ground. Mixed feelings there. We know we're
being moved... no question about that, and I don't want to beat that horse to death any more than I already have... it was just bittersweet. The last
time we do a lot of things, you know. Saying goodbye to the kids was not fun. And to the adult friends we've made as well. The church had a going-away
reception-type thing for us that was really sweet. It gave us a time to say our goodbyes and hug everyone in the last hours of our time there. We're down
to seeing what it is God moved us for now.
I said this last time, I'll say it again... we're changing. Sunday night after we got home from church, Heather and I sat down and exhaled, and both
said we feel the same thing-- we feel like different people. We feel like life is turning on its ear, and we're holding on for dear life just trying to
see where we're going. God's taking care of us, there's no question in that. So many good things have happened in addition to all the unpleasant ones since
we decided to say goodbye to Stamping Ground, we know we're going the right way. While we're figuring out what that way is, I'll plink out a few notes on the
dulcimer, Heather will roll her eyes at my latest nonsensical statement, we'll keep entertaining each other, we'll move on.
January 4, 2006
Happy New Year! Or, three-days-after-New-Year, at any rate, it's a new one. Looks like it's going to be a year of change for us, too... perhaps
more than we're really ready for. In fact, I'd almost count on it.
First things first: Heather and I have decided to leave the church. It's been a long, arduous, and difficult decision. For six months now, we've been
hearing God speak and saying, "Not yet, we still have a few things to do." We were hoping to be there at least another year and a half, but in light of our
Lord's recent decision to start speaking with the equivalent of kettledrums, we decided to go ahead and say okay, and move on. It was a tough Sunday last week,
some tears, some laughter, some more tears. I really wanted to back down a couple times and just say, "Okay, I was just kidding. We'll stay." But the reality
is, we can't. No matter how much we want to. Looks like whatever God is planning for us can't wait.
On a happier note, we're going to go get my hammered dulcimer this weekend! We've roped my buddy Brandon and his wife Ginger into going with us. It wasn't that
hard, I'll say... Brandon is a total instrument junkie, and we're driving them and lodging them. (I secretly think Heather wanted him along because of the entertainment
factor when he and I get together, but don't tell her.) At any rate, I hope in the very near future to post some of my first efforts at playing up here.
Also, I got the new Derek Webb album yesterday, and as you recall from the LAST Derek Webb, I have to chew on it
for a few days before I put up a review. One's coming, though. I can say that my first impressions have been about the same as last time... it's tough to chew on, but
very, very much worth the time spent. Deep stuff.
I really feel like Heather and I are shaping up for something big. I don't know what it is yet... it just seems that so many things are happening right now,
so many that are shaking our world... it has to be for some reason. It's a step of faith, or even two. I've always found, though, that when those steps are taken,
God won't let you step out into nothing. For now, though, I'll learn my music. Unlike trombone and piano lessons when I was a kid, this time it's because I want to.
Because I NEED to, even. Heather and I will simplify our lives, not only because some of our disposable income is gone, but also because we can use some simplifying.
We'll visit friends more. We'll visit family more... I think they're the ones that we've neglected the most often anyway. These aren't New Year's resolutions... they're
needs that need to be addressed and met, because they're intentions we've made before and fallen short on.
Some lyrics from The Waiting to close on:
"The corner I once knew, brings me into view again
So I could stay out late, find new bones to break but then, I'd be dragging home admitting
I am because you are I Am- I recognize, clearly I see
I am because you are I Am- I am in you, you are in me.
Spent too many days devising many ways, trying to escape you
Played too many roles, dug too many holes just big enough to fall into
And I could linger here, hoping to disappear in excuses
Come morning's shining face, I'd be crawling to the place I called home,
Where first you cut me loose."
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