time for a new look

yeah, so I got bored with the greens and thought it was time to jazz things up. I'm not sure how long it will take for my face in the corner to annoy me but I’m okay with it for now. If anything doesn't work let me know. Macs and PCs don't seem to like each other too much. Okay, later.

From the tribe of the Red Necks.

I once went to a FMX (Freestyle Motocross) event with Tyson. Tyson is a friend of mine from Tunnel Hill, Georgia. This was my first exposure to a certain North American tribe I was totally unaware of while living in Africa. I felt like Christopher Columbus discovering a new, unheard of, people. I must say that it’s been a phenomenal experience learning about, encountering and seeing this particular sub-culture firsthand. Here is some exquisite documentation of this all too rare people group from the great Americas.

that which is eternal

I love seeing professionals. I love seeing people who are really, really, really good at what they do. There is a small church out here in the burbs that has “Excellence” as one of its core values. Along with that said value goes this quote by their pastor, “Excellence honors God and inspires people.”- B.Hybels. I concur. I can’t really speak for God but I can tell you that excellence inspires me.

Friday night I went Salsa dancing with the dancing Chicago masses. There were up to 200 of us sweaty people getting our groove on, out on that dance floor under the stars. (Fine, I know there are no stars in Chicago but it was outdoors okay.) Even though I believe the best dancer on the floor is always the one having the most fun, I was really amazed at the people who knew what they were doing. And I promise you I was not one of them. For real, it was stunning to see two people dancing together in complete perfect syncopation. I was inspired.

Saturday afternoon down at our North Avenue beach, where we bask every weekend, I got to see the 1# ranked beach volleyball player, Mark Paaluhi from Hawaii. (We also saw Vince Vaughan but he doesn’t half way impress me as much as Paaluhi did.) Paaluhi was good. He was excellent. He inspired me.

I want to be excellent. I want to be brilliant. I want to inspire. "I want to do something copius, something capacious, something cagunga!"
I want to take over the world. No….not really. But within me lies this smoldering fire that wants to be more. I think we all want to live a significant life. I guess my idea of significance and inspiring has very much changed over the years. I think I’m figuring out that true significance, God's way, must lie in that which is eternal. And that’s people. Not trophies, accolades, houses or bank accounts. People, people, people! That’s it and that’s all.

Griffin House

After a very cool afternoon down at the beach, where I showed mike who his daddy is with some beach wrestling, I took off for a great show by the "Ten out of Tenn" tour at Schubas Tavern. 10 bands from Tennessee have been touring the land and last night they stopped in Chi-Town. I love Griffin House and he played last night. It was a sweet cozy atmosphere that amplified the melancholy longings that his song writing and music so intensely convey. I wouldn’t call it sad music. Melancholy to me doesn't necessarily equate sad. I would say thoughtful and sincere…. well, I loved it. If any of you get a chance to see him live, go for it. (You guys in London, check him out @ The Borderline- 29/06/05)

After the show we had drinks and good conversation and I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he sat at the bar sipping on his Blue Moon. My friend dared me to say the typical “I loved the show, thanks man” but my pride wouldn’t allow me to come off as an adoring fan. And plus, in my mind it just felt a tad weird addressing him as “Mr. House”.

“Well I ran into some trouble and headed out toward Liberty Line. I heard voices going in my head, you could be living more than you could be dying…But I feel I’m gonna make it to the line where freedom waits then this lonely prisoner can cross the boarder to a better state.”
Liberty Line (Audio Clip)

life is good

I got in a little vehicle collision a week ago. A small frustrating bumper-to-bumper accident that involved a police station, recorded insurance calls and an investigator. What a pain in the ass this has all been. But really the only thing that bothers me is that I feel so accident vulnerable now. If you’ve ever been in an accident, you’ll know that you go through this experience the next few days where you feel like you are an accident waiting to happen. I can see it when I drive now….a huge 18wheeler Mac truck side swiping me into kingdom come. I think I’m ready. At every intersection I fire up a quick prayer telling them I might be coming home.

Apart from that, this past week was easy fine. My house is a buzz with eros, all three of my roommates are seeking out that summer loving…quite successfully might I add.
I feel I’m finding pleasure in the little things:
I inherited a record player, which I’ve always wanted, along with some classic albums such as Bob Marley and the Wailers Live, a couple of old Claptons and Springsteens etc. I had some great meals with some of my favorite people this week, Bill, Dave, Greg, Mary, Kondo. I love good conversation over a meal. It’s powerful. Small things made me smile deep down this week- My friend Sarah calling me to see how I’m really doing after she returned from a mission trip, Erin showing me pics on the computer of her foster kids that she works with, my new read from Tim called, "The Word and Power Church". The freedom friends have to call me late at night to ask me how I would feel if they died. All these things made me conclude that life is sweet. I feel so grateful for life right now, for grace from my small group for allowing me to break from regular teaching to having a heart to heart. I've even started running again.
…yeah folks, life is good even with the occasional bumper to bumper experience. I can honestly say, yes life is good and I’m lovin it!

i like what i like.

On the drive in to work this morning with my coworker/chauffer I was sipping away at my breakfast, a big ice cold bottle of Gatorade, Frost. Mmm, my favorite. Laurel mentioned that she doesn’t like it. To which I replied, “well obviously you don’t like it,… its the drink of REAL Superhero’s”. This respone stemmed from my bitterness over our Superhero conversation from the day before. I admitted that my favorite super hero is Spiderman. I love his ongoing internal struggle, save the world or find his own personal happiness. I loved my Spidy out fit from years ago and always felt comfortable laughing at the other ridiculous superhero-wannabe kids who wore their underwear on top of their nasty sweat pants…like their favorite superhero’s.

Laurel likes Superman. I realize that I have a problem. I like what I like. And I don’t know why other people don’t all like what I like. I like Spiderman and everyone else should, I like Apple computers and everyone else should, I like Gatorade and everyone else should, I love Coldplay… and I expect everyone else to. But it’s not like that. We all like different things. Have you ever driven past a car that is totally pimped out and think to yourself, “what the heck was that guy thinking… does he really think that’s cool?” Yeah, you know what i'm talking about. Seriously, why do I have such a problem just letting people enjoy what THEY enjoy…? I realize that I need to let go. So if any of you want to share whom your favorite super hero is, I will try my best to be okay with it. Let me know…its good medication for this sickness I have.

P.S I also really, really like He-Man. Ahh, who can forget the days of “The Masters of the Universe”? Anyone know where I can get a pair of He-Man jocks?

midnight tonight!

Today, June 6th is a great day! But tomorrow, June 7th is going to be even greater. Yeah baby, you guessed it. At midnight tonight I will be in Tower Records in Lincoln Park picking up my very own copy of X&Y. I am so amped! Who knew album releases can leave you feeling so euphoric!
Yes, I know I have a dental appointment tomorrow but I’ll be all smiles sitting in that chair, with soul vibrations pumping through my heart. Here’s to Chris Martin and the boys and the promise that this summer’s soundtrack is going to be magnificent! To ColdPlay!

the song in my heart today

Just Like You - Jason Upton

I tried to walk on the water and found myself under the sea
So with water up my nose I felt your hand come close to save me
I’ve tried to cast out the demons I’ve gone to the darkest of regions
When fear has me shaking you suddenly break in to save me

I desire
To be like you
Like any son or daughter
I want to be like my Father
I desire to be like you

You promised to never forsake me
So I’ll risk it all if you’ll make me like You

You stand beside me just waiting while I try to go it alone
Smiling You say son come here won’t you let me just help you
But frustrated I try to make it cause I’ve just got something to prove
Not knowing that it is my weakness that perfects your power

I desire
To be like you
Like any son or daughter
I want to be like my Father
I desire to be like you

Audio Clip

figure drawing & good times

In art school the Figure Drawing professor would get a student from the dance department, who didn’t mind being nude... or probably minded but needed the money more, and get them to inch by inch move ever so slowly across the class room while we would have to draw their figure in motion from one side of the page to the other. It’s as clever and weird as it sounds. Scribbling away I enjoyed the challenge of capturing as much as possible, making it as beautiful as possible with the time given. The conclusion of drawing motion looks like a messy scrawl of beautiful rhythmic lines.

This was my three-day weekend……..minus the nude dance student of course. In my mind, because I have not yet processed it, all I remember was so much activity being such a blast. (Canoeing, Chili’s, Frisbee, friends rugby, football, BBQ, biking, baseball, mysteries, shopping and of course pizza). It is not so much the “what I did” that I remember as the good and goofy conversations, the smiles, grins, lame jokes and ridiculous giddiness. These are the things I don’t want to forget. But like my scribbled motion drawing could not adequately capture the effect of motion so my words fail to capture the invisible qualities of a good time with great people. So I will stop.
Hope your 3days off were as sweet as mine.

p.s The Chicago White Sox, at home, stadium packed, great hot dogs, bottom of the ninth with bases loaded, 2 out, and then winning…now that’s a good time!