I'm in Springfield!

Okay, not really, but you've gotta go do this. You just upload a photo, make a few adjustments, and find yourself "Simpsonized"! Very cool!

Review: My December - Kelly Clarkson

I wasn't a closet American Idol at the time that Kelly Clarkson took the crown but my desire to stay up on pop culture has kept her in my eyes. Plus, if you listen to the radio at all, you just can't miss hearing her songs! But, My December is actually an album that's worth listening to. Just keep in mind, you're gonna need some cheering up after! Here's the INFUZE review:

My December - Kelly Clarkson

Despite What My Critics Say

I'm apparently approved for all audiences! Booyah!

(HT: Marko)

Recent Reading

I've continued to live with a desire for fiction as of late, despite a small stack of non-fiction "to-reads" piling up next to my bed. I think it's got a lot to do with our pace of life and stress level as of late but, either way, I've run into some good stuff to read.

Coyote Blue was probably my least favorite of Christopher Moore's works but it was still an entertaining read. Again Moore brings the surreal into the everyday and makes us think, laugh, and shake our heads.

I read Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas some time ago and remembered it being quite an interesting read. So, when I happened upon this sequel at my local secondhand store, I picked it up. Koontz's key character, Odd, is intriguing and will worm his way into your heart. Give him a shot.

I started listening to Garrison Keillor's tales from Lake Wobegon a long time ago before I even realized how truly great they were. Keillor is a masterful storyteller with a sensitive finger on the pulse of midtown life and here he weaves tales of love, loss, and a touch of midlife crisis into a fun and heartwarming read.

This book made me sad. Not because of it's dark thematic elements (it deals with death, as in the big "D") but more so because this concludes the Christopher Moore books that I haven't read. Yet, as one of his latest, Moore continues to improve and excel, continuing to mine the town of San Francisco for material and integrating characters familiar in some of his other works. Strangely poignant and laugh out loud funny, this is good stuff.

Relevant Wisdom

Some time ago, I ran across this very cool magazine for twentysomethings called RELEVANT. It was trendy, cool, and had some very thoughtful and challenging pieces as well. I was hooked. So I've been reading ever since. For a long time I just picked it up at the local bookstore but eventually relented, particularly since I realized it was tons cheaper, and subscribed. Well, my subscription ended with the last issue, May/June, and with our move and everything we forgot/were too poor/lost the paperwork/had enough trouble remembering where we'd put all our stuff to renew it. So, the other night, a bit overwhelmed with children, I left them home with my wife on a mission to buy some much needed Pull-Ups but detoured along the way and picked up a copy of the new issue.

I'm so glad I did. It's a great issue but two things in particular just kind of caught me right this time and I thought I'd share them here. The first was ironically the editor's letter, called the "First Word", from founder Cameron Strang. Cameron writes:

"How many of us have felt that optimistic determination that we're going to change the world? And how many - be honest - have had difficulty sustaining it? Inevitably, things don't turn out the way we hope, and "real world" things - school loans, marriage, kids, mortgages - pull us away from huge passions that once steered our lives. So what do we do? Do we succumb to the reality of settling? Or do we find ways to stay true to the passions God instilled deep within us?"

Okay, read my blogpost before this and I think we have that answer. But Cameron continues with some good advice:

"Distractions and responsibilities are inevitable. Things will not happen the way we think they will. But if we still believe in the things we once did, it's up to us to still go out and fight for our convictions.

And we need to start now. We don't have to wait until things are perfect. You may be working some sucky 9-to-5 to pay the bills, but that doesn't need to define your future...Don't let your circumstances dictate your future. Don't lose sight of what God has put inside of you...The future will be determined by people who will chase their dreams and stand up for what they believe in, come what may. If we're unwavering in our convictions, keep our focus on God and do whatever it takes, well, that's how revolutions are started. And sustained."

Good words, Cam. Good words. And I need to hear them so, thank you.

In the same issue, RELEVANT featured an interview with one of my favorite authors of all time, Anne Lamott. Lamott's writing has left quite an impression upon my life and has enabled me to see through an entirely new lens so this was very cool to read. I just want to share one quick quote that she offers up in the interview:

"You don't deepen your relationship with Christ with books; you do it by showing up with other people who are taking care of the poorest, hungriest and most marginalized. If you want to find where Jesus is, you'll find Him close to the poorest of the poor, the suffering, the terrorized people."

Just good stuff. Thanks, RELEVANT.

And as a side note, if you're not a reader/subscriber, you should be. Head over to their site and check it out. And for bonus fun, log onto itunes and subscribe to their podcast too. Features some good interviews, music, and well, all around hilarity.

The Hulk Within

This has been an interesting day. It's been one of those days where it feels like the weight of the world has decided to take a break upon your shoulders. I can't really explain why but as I've had more and more time (it was a REALLY long day) to sort of reflect, I've noticed one thing about myself. Now, I'm sure that this is true of most people and whatnot but today I truly latched onto it as my own. Here's the big realization: When I get tired, it affects all of me.

Now this sounds simple in principle and I'm surely not the only one who reacts this way, but I've just really noticed, perhaps more and more, that as my fatigue level rises, I begin to struggle in more aspects than just being sleepy. My spiritual discernment and strength wane. My temper flares. My patience level, normally pretty strong, slides straight into the trash can. I know that I can't be the only one.

This particular point of fatigue has come, by and large, courtesy of my darling children Tyler and Peyton. If you scroll down here and there, you'll see some darling pics of these super kids. But, rest assured, pictures can lie. They're great kids but, well, some days, they can be a bit taxing on old Dad. And recently, Peyton has been having a few issues with sleeping through the night. So, that makes virtually a year with us alternating with getting up every freakin' night, sometimes more than once. On top of that, our slightly ADHD boy has just been trying to push some buttons, testing the waters. We've tried just about every discipline point that we know, some which work and others with lesser results, and it has just left me tired.

On top of that physical and emotional fatigue, I've also found myself pushed for time. Celena and I have spent a fair amount of time gabbing about our search for balance over at the "conversation" and this continues to be a struggle as I wrestle with trying to be a Dad, be a husband, be a son-in-law, an employee, and, most difficultly, a writer. I've had the most difficult trouble carving out space for me. To me, that feels like a very selfish statement to write, and perhaps it is, but I just need that bit of personal time, particuarly for writing. I am driven more and more to write but it's very difficult to establish a rhythm with the flow of these kids and life in general.

It largely ends up having me feel like Bruce Banner, just waiting for The Hulk to emerge. I'm a fairly mild-mannered guy, but the pressure edges in sometimes and I'm just trying to do my best to keep the green guy under wraps. Say a prayer for me if you would...

Recent Tylerisms

Heard as he sat playing with Peyton the other day: "Is the baby our pet? Are we going to keep her?"

Heard at bedtime, as Erin read a "Dora the Explorer" story to Tyler and he and I sat listening:

Erin: "...and then my Mamie said..."
Me: "Mommy..."
Erin: "It's spelled M-A-M-I. That's Mamie!"
Me: "Yeah, but have your ever heard a Spanish kid say, 'Mamie'? I don't think so."
Erin: "Whatever."
Tyler, looking at Erin and then at me, shaking his head: "She's not very good at this."

Nothing But Big Events

Our life has been pretty hectic as of late which may or may not explain my lack of blogging lately. (By the way, please forgive the plethora of review postings prior to this one. Got a little backlogged!) But we've been keeping our heads above water. Life has been a continual adjustment as we live with Erin's parents but we're doing okay. I think we are anyway. There are a few days where things have been, well, tense, but other than that we're hanging in there.


But we've had some biggies going on too that have been sucking up our time too. The first big news is that Erin is finally a college graduate! Yay! Like me, she finished her studies a long, long time ago but had to wait to finally walk. Ironically, her school's business office messed up and come ceremony time, the little folder she got only had a blank sheet of paper in it but all has been resolved and the bonafide diploma is now safe in our possession. I'm so proud of her!




Our second big event was our darling little girl Peyton Brooke's first birthday and party. Just last year Erin was taking a quick trip to the hospital on July 4th for her weekly test and calling me and telling me to get there quick, that we were having a baby that day! How quickly a year has passed! It's crazy but she's an amazing little bundle of joy and we couldn't be happier!

Review - Indiana - Jon McLaughlin

Ever just heard one of those artists that you knew was going to make it? That's how I felt after hearing Jon McLaughlin's debut. This kid has the chops to go all the way. With a classically trained piano prowess and intelligent, heartfelt lyrics, this kid is here to stay. Check him out! Here's the INFUZE review:

Indiana - Jon McLaughlin

Review: Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur - Various Artists

The latest trend seems to be concerts and albums geared toward generating money and attention toward some point of injustice like Live Aid or the upcoming Live Earth. The problem is that, at least as far as albums go, these oftentimes end up in hellish tracks, like the "We Are the World" recording years ago. Yet, I don't think we can fault what are good intentions when they're there. This album is a mixed bag of artists and results but the attention needs to be given to this crisis. Buy it to help and enjoy tracks like Green Day's "Working Man's Hero" to boot. Here's the INFUZE review:

Instant Karma - Various Artists

Review: Carry On - Chris Cornell

I love Chris Cornell's voice. I have within my mind a short list of singer's voices that I intend to "negotiate" with God about contracting once I head on up to Heaven and his is on it. Cornell can wail, whine, and croon with the best of them. His work in Audioslave has been hit and miss and unfortunately this album suffers the same fate. Yet, it is Cornell singing and his cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" is worth the price alone. Here's the INFUZE review:

Carry On - Chris Cornell

Review: The Snow Abides - Michael Cashmore

Ever just been in the mood for something different? Well, then Michael Cashmore's the guy to turn to. At least in this instance he's well worth a shot. This five-song EP is a simple, unique outing that will have you scratching your head yet reaching to give it a second play. Here's the INFUZE review:

The Snow Abides - Michael Cashmore

Review: S.O.S.: Save Our Soul - Marc Broussard

Late night insomnia pays off sometimes. While wrestling with sleep one night and with wakefulness winning out, I found myself channel surfing through infomercial and bad movies. Ultimately, I happened upon CMT and found myself watching the video for "Home", a vivacious single off of Marc Broussard's album Carencro. As is often my way of responding, I hunted the album down and was amazed at the young man's grasp of blue-eyed soul. He sets his sights on reviving the genre here and rocks out on these classics. If you need an injection of life, Marc Broussard is your guy. Here's the INFUZE review:

S.O.S.: Save Our Soul - Marc Broussard

Review: Lost Highway - Bon Jovi

The music of Bon Jovi was the soundtrack of my youth. I remember having a cassette tape with some songs recorded off the radio that I played to death. One of those tracks was Bon Jovi's seminal "You Give Love A Bad Name". Good memories. Well, I've grown quite a bit since those days and the boys have aged a bit but they've weathered the storms and have come out on the other side looking none the worse for wear. Adopting a country-inspired sound this time around, Bon Jovi scores a fun listen. Here's the INFUZE review:

Lost Highway - Bon Jovi

Review: Pocket Symphony

I try to be a pretty open guy musically. Just a quick look at the itunes shuffle survey post I did a few posts below will show that, even with just a percentile of my music uploaded, I'm fairly diversified. Yet, I hit a wall with Air's Pocket Symphony. I wanted to like this album. I listened to it over and over, probably more than I should have really, yet I just found myself bored. It just didn't do it for me. Yet, here's the INFUZE review:

Pocket Symphony - Air

Review: Live in Dublin - Bruce Springsteen

I became a Bruce Springsteen fan after seeing the video for the title cut of Devils and Dust. With the subsequent release of We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, I was hooked. This was not the Springsteen I grew up imagining. The Boss' compelling delivery coupled with a hardworking and everyman sort of attitude just sold me. This is a great album! Here's the INFUZE review:

Live in Dublin - Bruce Springsteen

Review: Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace - Big & Rich

While I'm a huge proponent for old-school country (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings), I still like to see what the young kids are up to. Guys like Shooter Jennings and Big & Rich have brought some interesting things to the table in the past few years and, while not necessarily creating groundbreaking music, have kept Music Row hopping. Unfortunately, this outing from Big & Rich falls short of what I think they're capable of, despite featuring a few solid singles. Here's the INFUZE review:

Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace - Big & Rich

Review: The Gospel Truth - Susan Werner

I caught an interview with Susan Werner on NPR one Saturday morning as I went about some daily chores and knew that I needed to give her album a listen. Billing itself as perhaps the first "agnostic gospel album", this is some interesting stuff. Werner borrows from the traditional gospel sound and offers up thoughtful, poignant, and honest lyrics that those of us in the Christian camp would do well to listen and dialogue about. Here's the INFUZE review:

The Gospel Truth - Susan Werner

Review: We'll Never Turn Back - Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples is one of the greatest voices in music, period. Whether it be gospel or whatever, her voice possesses a powerful charm that grabs anyone within listening range. This album is a beautiful tribute to the African American struggle for equality and reminds us that we still have a long way to go. This will be on a few Top 10 lists this year. Here's the INFUZE review:

We'll Never Turn Back - Mavis Staples

Review: Call Me Irresponsible - Michael Buble

Sometime not long ago I found myself at my future sister-in-law's house and she was playing a mix she'd created for her wedding that was virtually all Michael Buble. As I listened to the young Canadian work his way through songs old and new, I was impressed. Call Me Irresponsible isn't his best work to date but it's worth a listen or two. Here's the INFUZE review:

Call Me Irresponsible - Michael Buble