Friday, November 30, 2007

Christening the Neighborhood

We're playing a couple local shows in Dec and Jan. It'll be nice to hang a little closer to home for a few, work on some new material, try it out live.

Please join us for a show or two.

We're playing at a new café around the corner...literally like 300 ft from my front door. It's called SoCha. It opened just before we left. And they have Chimay on tap. Yes. And a yummy bakery and whatnot.

Would you join us on Wed, Dec 19th for a sort of HOMECOMING SHOW? 8pm. Free. Just drink and eat and be merry. Seriously...'tis the season.

More info on their website and myspace.

PS - WE'RE PLOTTING A WEST COAST TOUR FROM SAN DIEGO TO SEATTLE IN APRIL '08. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HAVING US IN FOR A CONCERT OR IF YOU WANT TO HOST A HOUSE SHOW, PLEASE EMAIL ME.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Geico Worked For Me

I actually did just save 30% for staying with Geico. And that's after saving about 15% or so when I switched from Progressive. Wow. Not bad.

Advent Conspiracy

I'm very happy that they used Unified Theory for this beautiful video. Enjoy and pass around.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Resolved

Got a call from Apple this morning...they offered Holly yet another MacBook Pro. This time, we turned them down. We said it was time to go desktop. They told us of the pros and cons of the iMac versus the Mac Pro. We went with the iMac...top end.



Got it set up with Leopard and everything. Seems to be running fine now.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Bethany Elfed Us

Check it out.

Rockin out with Dan &

Rockin out with Dan & Holly @ As i lay dying.

Going to our first metal

Going to our first metal show. Free and VIP.

Save The Date: New Year's Eve, 2007

Make plans to be at our house this Dec 31st to celebrate Holly's birthday and 2008's birthday. There will be barley wine, sangria, Spanish dancers and more.

Save the date. 18 Fair Ave, San Francisco, CA

BBQ @ 5pm
Party @ 7pm

This will be a moustache party...for ladies and men.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Nice.

It was nice to run a 5k again...it's been years...honestly, it's been a long time since I have run for 32 minutes straight. Wow.

But it felt good to finish...not to walk...and to just do it.

If you haven't been able to tell, I have been texting to my blog from my cell phone...what a handy feature...but I still cannot upload photos/video that way. So it goes.

Okay, now for the rest of the day...

32 min

32 min

4k...heart tightening

4k...heart tightening

Crossing Stanyan.

Crossing Stanyan.

im the only one with

im the only one with no number...about to start...

Arriving to starting line. Were

Arriving to starting line. Were doing this guerilla style and not paying the entrance fee.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Updates

Geez. This morning, Holly awoke to this...


So after the farmer's market, Holly and I drove to the mall to the Apple store for–catch this–the 7th hard drive replacement on an Apple Computer in 24 months...the last 6 being in the last year...and this being the third replacement on this computer. Wow.

Dumb luck, we're told. I'll say. Oh, and it might take longer than 1 week for them to get a replacement hard drive. Oh Lord, again in the midst of our chaos.

One of the things I wanted to get upon re-arrival into SF was to get a desk for Holly and I to work at. I found one last night on Craigslist and couldn't turn it down...it was just down the street.

So on BUY NOTHING DAY, I bought something. But Bethany says that because it was used, it's off the books. Sounds good.




Pax has been generally sick and fussy. Luckily my mom and sister and Dan and Bethany have been around to shoulder the burden.

Tomorrow we're gonna head to Golden Gate Park and run the WILD 5k or 10k...not sure which yet.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Yup.

Time for a change of pace.

Buy Nothing Day

I was hoping that we'd have time to put something together for today in San Francisco (some sneaky subversion), but alas I ran out of time. We are home now, Pax is up early, and the house is still quiet. I found some cool links so I thought I'd pass them along if you're a Bay Area person.

The Really Free Market at Mission Dolores Park
Several Other Options Around the Bay

Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Small Business Help

I have recently created an S-Corp (at the suggestion of a friend) for SharpSeven Design, our graphic / web design company. There are so many things that I'm clueless about and I'm trying to figure out some stuff by the end of this month. If you have any experience setting up an S-Corp and can help me troubleshoot some stuff, please contact me! Please.

Days 51-52: TX to CA

I finally arrived into Santa Cruz moments ago...about 1am PST.

Omnivore's Dilemma was such a good travel companion...as well as Josh, Emily and Amy, James, Troy and countless others.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and conversations along the way.

And, of course, thanks to Natalie for summing up my feelings on these last couple months (or years)...

Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself

But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found

Taking the long way
Taking the long way around

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Andrew Bird Is genius.

Andrew Bird Is genius.

Thin blue flame might be

Thin blue flame might be my favorite song of all time.

The familiar smells of central

The familiar smells of central valley.

Bleary-eyed in Barstow.

Bleary-eyed in Barstow.

In California.

In California.

The wind is killing my

The wind is killing my gas mileage.

Just crossed the continental divide.

Just crossed the continental divide.

Driving through lava beds in

Driving through lava beds in new mexico.

Monday, November 19, 2007

And now its black.

And now its black.

Sunset in new mexico...ahh.

Sunset in new mexico...ahh.

Nearing New Mexico.

Nearing New Mexico.

This is where tornados land.

This is where tornados land.

Regretful that I ate that

Regretful that I ate that burger...amazing book.

Looking for a Whataburger...How hypocritical.

Looking for a Whataburger...How hypocritical.

Listening to Omnivores Dilemma in

Listening to Omnivores Dilemma in middle of nowhere Texas.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Should We Ever Lose Power

Days 49-50: Dallas

It has been so nice to be back with family for a couple days. We have caught up on some sleep, on some email, on mail and bills and whatnot.

Pax has enjoyed seeing his grandparents on this side...I'm sure Holly will be posting some photos and reflections on his site soon.

We got to see Laci as well and that was lovely. I am hopeful about the year ahead. I think some clarity is around the bend. And I'm grateful for that.

In other news, I happened upon an issue of Relevant Magazine today...and so I picked it up. I was hoping to be surprised, but I wasn't. It seems just like CCM for the 21st century. I had such high hopes for that magazine from the beginning. And I read over an article about Emergent and I just found it to be immature and unimaginative. That also made me sad.

Tomorrow I take Holly and Paxton to the airport...they'll embark on a 7-hour odyssey via El Paso and Phoenix to San Jose. I'll meet them in the Bay a few days later since I am driving it. I'm looking forward to some reflective time by myself...as well as a chance to listen to The Omnivore's Dilemma on my iPod. Oh, and I splurged on iTunes and bought The Swell Season, the new Sigur Ros (as well as the untitled album), the Over The Rhine Christmas record, and a band my sister recommended whose name evades me presently.

Should be nice.

Day 48: Austin

How have I fallen behind? Oh...perhaps it was because after we spent the day in Austin with the Carltons, sat in Friday afternoon traffic, set up and played an incredibly emotional show, hung out, conversed...then drove 3.5 hours to Dallas, arriving at 3am with a crying baby.

Yah, perhaps that's why.

But it was so nice the next morning to pass Paxton off to Grandma Berg (my mom) so that we could go back to sleep.

Austin was magical. It was a lovely show at Journey IFC. Grace Pettis opened. During the 15 minute break, about 40% of the folks bolted. I got up to play Begin Again and at the end, my cable shorted, resulting in a ridiculous hum-buzz combination.

We came off stage and just played acoustic. Everyone moved in closer and we ended up in a long conversation about family, hopes, ideals, and the Kingdom of God. It was beautiful. Tiring, for sure, but amazing.

I recalled the Gideon story of God thinning people until it was a small group. Perhaps it was appropriate for so many people to take off before we played. At least I'll think of it that way.

A wonderfully appropriate way to finish off the tour.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Is Information Transformational?

I wonder about this. I spoke with someone in Austin about this. He was saying that he wished that he could kind of download all the information that had helped him to think differently into another person, hoping that they might change as well. He, of course, recognized that this was impossible and egotistical.

I responded with my skepticism of information being transformational. I sit here watching the cooking channel with my parents and I wonder if people cook better in the 21st century now that we have access to the top chefs in the world thanks to our boob-tube. Or do we still cook the same stuff?

I began to think about how there is now this market for eating better, living better, more green, more fit, more spiritually insightful, more prosperous and responsible....resources after resources to fit into this market. And alot of us read this stuff, eat this stuff, watch this stuff. But are we changing? Or does this information actually keep us from changing, essentially guaranteeing that the market will never become obsolete?

It immediately feared what this means for my music and life...am I pitching ideas–a way of life–to people that are fictional? What I mean is this: Is there any change happening because I help some people connect the dots of information and conviction? Or am I actually just keep that transformation at a distance in such a way as to necessitate me coming in once a year to talk about it again?

Do you see what I mean? If success looks like people realizing themselves and living into their truest self, then wouldn't I eventually be out of a job if that's what I'm helping them to do?

Friday, November 16, 2007

Stats

30 shows
30 states
10300 miles so far...12000 by the time we get home
48 days so far...53 when we get home

Day 47: to Baytown, TX

We drove from Loo-see-ana to Baytown (outskirts of Houston). It was mellow and short, with a stop-off in Beaumont, TX for some thrift-ing. Got a couple hip used t-shirts. Aw yee.

The evening in Baytown was lovely as ever. The Cottar Family were great hosts...really. And it was great to reconnect with some folks that we saw here 2 years ago. There is a cool energy to this place.

We head to Austin next...and then to Dallas...and then home to San Francisco. More to reflect on then. Now...a nap.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Up at the Crack

Pax woke us around 4am this morning and pretty much refused to go back to sleep. After pleading and pleading, we finally got up and took him for his first experience at a Waffle House. Mmm. Actually I'm feeling a little sick after the fried local seafood from last night and the coffee and whatnot from this morning. Time to leave the South.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Day 46: The Deep South

We took off rather early this morning...Pax woke up around 5.30 for good. Daylight Savings + One Time Zone (westward) = Pax waking early. So it goes.

We headed west from Mobile, grabbed some coffee at a local coffee shop, had some conversation and left. We stopped for lunch in Baton Rouge at a little co-op type place for some yummy chili and not-so-yummy root soup.

Pax slept two good naps...1:15 and 1:30. Nice. It's now 4.30 and we're trying to get him to take another nap...he's hating the idea.

This afternoon Pax and I went to the park near the lake. Oh, we're staying in Lake Charles, Louisiana this evening...heading to Houston area tomorrow. We had fun on the playground and with the water-jet-from-the-ground thingies.

Must get...

Support Samir's Efforts

There is a growing number of wonderfully hopeful Muslims, Jews, and Christians who believe (more deeply and passionately than extremists ever can) that their faith can be a source of wisdom and inspiration for turning the world around. But who is standing in their corner? Who is helping them? In times past, too many of us have been “peace wishers,” waiting for the world to change. It’s time to push back against the dark side of all religious traditions. Let’s find, protect, and support the peacemakers among “us,” and among “them.”

- from FAITHHOUSE blog

What Samir is suggesting through his community might just be a beautiful answer to moving beyond "mere co-existence" as I have talked about along this trip with people.

Begin Again @ The Bennetts

I've been meaning to post a few videos along the way to show our new performance techniques. Well here we are at the end of the tour and I'm still a long ways off...

But here's Begin Again all by my lonesome.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Day 45: Florida to Alabama

What a night of sleep! I went to bed around 8pm, Pax around 7pm, and Holly around 10pm. So needed. We were all so tired. We woke this morning, got some breakfast, did some work, slept again during Pax's morning nap...and then left the hotel, heading westward.

We had a wonderful stopover at Pensacola Beach (a small island off of Pensacola). It was lovely to sit in the white sand and breath deep. The colors were unreal. We'll post pics soon...and don't forget that Holly is posting pics way better than I over at Pax's blog.

We grabbed a nice seafood dinner...Pax enjoyed it as much as we did...and then headed to Mobile around sunset. We gained an hour due to time zone change...we'll see how that goes with Pax tomorrow morning.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Day 44: Heading West

We just arrived to our hotel in Tallahassee, Florida. It was sad to leave Kristi and Rick (and Gillian, Aeden, and Rhys) this morning. They are wonderful people really trying to make a good life together. God, it is hard.

So many of us take such great risks. We've leveraged our life-resources for this thing called the Kingdom. It is seldom profitable if done well. We all speak about "sustainability" but shy away from living comfortably...in some ways. I think of the line on Neon Bible: You're working for the church while your family dies. Stark. Wow.

But what are we to do? Just chuck our hopes and dreams for a better world and just "get with the program?" Don't think it's not tempting. Particularly for those who are beyond the 20-something hype / unlimited energy stage. Friends in their 40s and 50s that are still risking approach stuff in a different sort of way.

I have spent hours on this trip in silence, driving interstates, grieving and hoping inside for so many of our friends.

Sometimes I stare into the sky like it's a window to your eye
If clouds can bring the oceans, then how come they have not yet brought you?

- Troy Bronsink

The Long Return

We begin our long drive from Tampa, Florida back to San Francisco (by way of two shows in TX). If you live off / near I-10 between Florida and Texas...or know places to stop along the way, please let us know. It's always a bit of a "dead zone" for us in previous trips.

Prayers for safety and a sleeping baby would be appreciated.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Day 42-43: Tampa, Florida

We landed in Tampa after a 6 hour drive...it was a long one. We arrived at the Bennetts...a lovely 75 degrees outside. It was a nice change of pace. We played our second outdoor house show on this trip...it was a fun night of meeting some new folks and catching up with the Bennetts...and several others.

That was Saturday night...and Pax slept through most of the night...even sleeping in until 6.45am...and that is really sleeping in these days. Daylight Savings really threw him off...and tomorrow we begin our trek across the States, messing him up again and again with more and more time zone changes.

Sunday morning (today) we had the chance to play @ the Watermark Community in Tampa. Rick and Tommy set this up and it was a fun morning. Lots of good folks there.

This morning was our last east coast show on this trip. We head to TX for a few days and play our last 2 shows on this trip. Looking forward to it.

This has been such an amazing trip, but we are all ready to get home.

Day 41: Warner Robins, GA

After spending several wonderful days with the Bronsinks, we headed south to Warner Robins, a medium-sized city in southern Georgia. I was told upon arrival that the Air Force base in town employs more people than any other company / organization in all of Georgia. That's where we played.

The folks at First Presbyterian Church were very warm and kind, eager to hear our tales from the road and from home.

The concert gave way to some lively discussion from time to time...conversations about moving beyond "agreeing to disagree", society being out of whack, family and humanity. It was a fun evening.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Days 39-40: Atlanta

We're in Atlanta with the Bronsinks. It's been lovely to be them. They're playing with Pax this morning at a park nearby...hence the butt-load of posts.

Here's a shot of Troy playing with me backing him up...


And here's a video of me performing one of Troy's songs. It's one of my favorites called AMELIA ISLAND...


Now we're off to do a photo shoot with the legendary Daley Hake.

Videos from DC

I, Obstruction...

A snippet from a new song...

Pics from Baltimore

Here are some pics that Stacy snapped in Baltimore.



Day 38: Winston-Salem, NC

Amazing show. Best performance of the trip for sure...



Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Day 37: Rustburg, Virginia

It's impossible to keep up...

...with the people we've met along the way
...with the wine and beer we've been blessed by
...with the experiences (good and bad)

There's just so little time to post to this damn blog. I thought we'd keep a regular podcast as well. There I go again, disappointing myself.

I sit in the guest bedroom of Jaime and Scott Childress's home in Rustburg, VA (about 15 minutes from Lynchburg), enjoying a cup of coffee I just brewed. Counter Culture beans...Rwandan. Mmm. The smell of Bisquick muffins emanating from the other room.

Why do you do this? some folks have asked along the way. And that's a good question. It's good for us to keep asking and good for us to answer.

We do it in part to nurture the amazing friendships we have all across the land. I don't know if I knew how important that would be to us and to them. I think that a great many of us feel isolated, alone, sad, disappointed. Having friends around that help us remember the greater story and how the risks we take are for a greater grace (thanks Mike for that phrase) is important.

Part of our vocation on this trip (turns out) is to take the stories from town to town...like in the olden days where the minstrels / apostles / whatever would connect people to the larger community by traveling to them. This has been evidently important.

I also feel that our message that we preach is a universal (yet contextual... :) ...) message. We all need to hear that there is a better way...and that our world is what we make of it. This is good stuff to be reminded of.

Today we'll head south by southeast thru the Blue Ridge Mountains down to Winston-Salem to play for some friends at Wake Forest. It should be a fun day / evening...if we can get some rest along the way.

Prayers for our rejuvenation and Pax's rest are coveted friends. We need to draw from a deeper well than just our own.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Day 36: Durham, North Carolina

It was sad to leave our friends up north in Baltimore and DC, but we left feeling very refreshed. And the 5+ hour drive south wasn't so bad. Still seeing beautiful colors along the freeway. I have a feeling that might change when we begin to head south from NC (but perhaps I'm wrong).

We joined Emmaus Way last night. It was really fun to work with Wade, Tim, and Dale Baker (the former drummer for Sixpence None The Richer). We performed Begin Again at their gathering, Dale and Wade adding some lovely spice. Then Holly and I did a concert afterwards that was really nice.

Pax woke this morning at 3am and screamed until 4.15am. Then he pretty much woke for good around 5.30am. Geez.

I'll say this: Mike mentioned the other day that "now I understand what you mean when Paxton screams. Wow." It feels nice to be understood. The kiddo has a will that is nearly unbendable. But I love him for that. It will take him places.

The Stavlunds put up some great pics here. I'll add to it later today / tonight / tomorrow / whenever. For now, we play a show in Rustburg, VA...near Liberty University. Eek!

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Day 35: Baltimore

What a fun day / evening /night. It was really great. Seeing the Stavlunds and the Hartmans just reminds me of what great friends we have, how cared for we are, and how enchanted our life truly is.

We leave tomorrow to head south. No time to chat now.

Friday, November 02, 2007

But Tension is to be Loved When it is Like a Passing Note to a Beautiful Chord

A line from Sixpence's last (I think) album. It's been circling in my head all day.

Days 33-34: DC

Haven't had much time to blog. That is, we've chosen to hang with our friends Mike and Stacy and Ella and Matt and Dawn instead. Pax has had his first kiss, we have had some good quasi-local beer, some great food, good nights of sleep (plus a good morning of sleep this morning thanks to them). Tonight we're having a house show here @ Matt and Dawn's.

Tomorrow we head to Baltimore and then south from there. Tonight starts our stint of 9 shows in 10 days from here to Tampa, Florida (with a day off in Atlanta to see some friends and so some S7 work). The Atlanta show should be fun because Troy is going to play some of his stuff and cover a Cobalt tune; we'll return the favor.

I breathe deep this autumn air
She waivers
Unsure whether to say
I am Autumn with a Summer wing
or
I am Autumn with a Winter wing
And I don't mind
I am breathing deep
And it's been forever

Check out Pax's blog as Holly has been updating it more frequently with photos...she just did a rather thorough entry a few minutes ago.