I’m a pretty consistent American Idol watcher, but this is the first season I’m more interested in the judges than the contestants! #NickiMinajHasGrownOnMe #KeithUrbanIsBloodyCool #WhenDidMariahCareyGetOld #RandyJacksonDawg #CandiceShouldWin #yawning
My Thoughts On A Ben Rector Show
Recently caught a Ben Rector show in Nashville and was looking forward to it, moreso than I have looked forward to any show lately. I first came to know Ben through a friend’s video post on Facebook.
So the more I discovered, the more I liked. I even had the opportunity to use one of his songs in a wedding video.
This was one of my favorite videos to make because the song lent itself to nice editing and imagery. I love how it turned out, but anyway, back to the concert.
The opener started about 830pm and Ben came on stage around 930pm. Very good show. He’s good at milking the audience’s enthusiasm. I noticed every 15 minutes or so, he’d simply say, “Nashville,” and the crowd went wild. I’m assuming bands do this at every city, and every city goes wild. He was funny, too. His lyrics have some depth but at the same time, they’re playful and catchy. So imagine my surprise when my thoughts wandered to what I would have done had I found myself in either World Trade Center building on September 11th, 2001. More specifically, would I have jumped like some people did? Was it really so bad that the better choice was to fall a hundred stories to certain death? If I reached the point where I accepted that life was over, I would hope to say, “To heck with it, I’m going up!” and try climbing stairs to the roof. Anything that gives me better odds than jumping. Ben was still playing and then I thought, “Everyone should have wings at their desk.” That way, if you were in a situation where you had to jump from a building, you could glide safely to the ground. Portable wings. Fold-out wings. Blow-up wings. Wings for the American people. Could be the next big thing, right? My mind wandered.
I’m also a loud clapper so I practiced clapping less loud.
So in summary, it was a good concert. I was hoping to be more connected to the music, to really feel it. But part of my disappointment was a guy standing 6’6” tall directly in front of me who was unwilling to move a little bit, and a date that was less than spectacular. Ah well, life is still good!
-Out of the Wilderness
Boston Marathon Bombing: Loving Enemies
“Love your enemies.”
Talk about radical teaching, but even on a day like today makes me love Jesus more. Because how many people today, how many religions right now, anywhere in the U.S. or the world, are thinking, “I really want to find those responsible for the Boston Marathon explosions and love on them”? But not just love in general, but love for the very person or people that thrive on hate! Maybe a few religions teach this and that’s cool. But man, Jesus did this even when it was difficult. Whether you align yourself with him or not, he lived what he taught- even when he was dying on a cross he was praying for the soldiers as they mocked him. Not to mention, he’s the only one no one can find. Where’s his body? But anyway, I’ll stop. Back to the current events.
We live in crazy world. I overhead a co-worker today ask another, “Why can’t we just be sweet to each other?” Couldn’t have said it better myself. I mean, at this point it hasn’t been determined who set up the Boston Marathon explosions or why, but come on, people. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (sarcasm here), but hate (or resentment like the quote below) will eat you up and will never, ever fill up what’s missing in your life. Events like this also help the rest of us onlookers re-evaluate what really matters. These are scary times. Spend time with those you love, and like Switchfoot asked so many years ago, “This is your life, are you who you want to be?” Now’s the time to go be it.
“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”
-Anne Lamott
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
She’s Not the Kind of Girl Who’s Single For Long: Part 2
She wasn’t single for long. Nope, not at all! It was because my husky physique, my mild manners juxtaposed to my aggressive ambition, my good looks and of course, my athletic ability… had no affect on her whatsoever. She ended up dating a baseball player! I’ll admit his physique was huskier, his manners were milder, his good looks were goober, and he was slightly more athletic, but only slightly more athletic! Afterall, I’m eating blueberries now, so I’ll be an average athlete well into my 80s I bet!
I don’t think this girl was thinking long term at all.
(for part 1 of this post, click here)
Breakfast > Brunch < Lunch
I was emailing with a friend- a girl- I hadn’t talked to in a while and asked if we could get together to catch up in person. She asked if “brunch” on Saturday worked for me. Well, first of all, I don’t think straight guys do “brunch.” Actually, I don’t know if curved guys do, either. Anyway, I told her asking to meet for “brunch” was like me asking to meet up for some hoops. I’d be up for breakfast. Or lunch. But not a combination of the two, ain’t nobody got time for that!
Out of the Wilderness 