Fly Fishing

I've recently gotten the opportunity to try my hand at fly fishing over the last month, and its really been quite enjoyable. There's just something so great about getting away from civilization, standing a nice shallow lake, and casting a fly rod over and over and over again. It's very freeing, and I it think allows everyone to get back to being a raw human being. It's you vs. the lake, vs. the fish, and that is how you will get your food today, and that is how our ancestors got their food many many years ago. So this past weekend I caught my very first keeper fish with a fly rod. It was pretty freaking cool.

Rats

I have learned that you are not allowed to upload MP3's onto blogger, I really thought I was onto something there.... oh well, sorry about the tease. Here is a link to said song with the LA philharmonic. It's not quite as good, but it will sort of do the job. On a side note, it is very cold here. Fall is in full effect, break out the mittens.

Possibly Music

Music.....I may have figured out how to post music on this puppy, yes sir! So here goes, my first track posting. I have recently been swept up in a bit of a Decemberists fever, which has treated me quite well. The following track is quite excellent and produced a 5 minute danceathon at work today. Enjoy........

The Decemberists-The Crane Wife 1&2

The Idiot

"Lack of originality, everywhere, all over the world, from time immemorial, has always been the foremost quality and recommendation of the active , efficient and practical man...."

Fyodor Dostoevsky

How do we balance that sense of wonder with the simple practical needs we have to meet? How do we do that and not sail our dreams, passions, and everything else that makes up what we are? How do we live in all this mess and live out who we were made to be?

I don't know, but we can't buy into the lie that security is the end all, don't let the practical and naysayers snuff out that joy and wonder. Maybe its ok to do something that makes no sense every now and then.

Springfield, Mo

A few weeks back I went on a short little trip to springfield, Mo to give out some outdoor gear to the homeless and see a good show. I've been meaning to talk about it for a while, but I couldn't figure out how to really explain it, and I don't know if I can. It was beautiful, that much I know, we gave out a lot of sleeping bags and jackets to people that were in need, and we got to give out totty and just sit and listen and be there. We showed up, and that was it, God took care of the rest. Here's a small little taste.

Everyday Joe's Goes To Missouri from Everyday Joe's on Vimeo.

14,267 Feet, 6:07 AM

Harry Patch (In memory of)

I am the only one that got through
The others died where ever they fell
It was an ambush They came up from all sides
Give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
I've seen devils coming up from the ground
I've seen hell upon this earth
The next will be chemical but they will never learn

Listen here

Awesome Amazing Music Day

I'm so happy I could do cartwheels all over work!

1. Sufjan is Back!!!! After a 4 year lull the man is back in action, touring with his fellow label mates Cryptacize around the Northeast. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the tour will make its way west. But either way, its great to have the man back. Look here for more info.

2. Radiohead has a new song, Harry Patch. It is orchestral and beautiful and named after the last surviving person to serve in World War I. Holy crow! Check it out here.

The Midnight Hike

A few friends and I decided to tackle a 14er this past saturday and to spice things up a bit we decided that we would start at 1 in the morning and watch the sunrise from the top of one of the peaks. It seemed like a good enough idea. The moon was so bright that we didn't need a headlight, and you could see your breathe, but it wasn't too too cold yet. We flew up the top of Grays (the left peak) by about 4:30 and realized that we had to climb Torrey's (on the right) or else we'd freeze. We made it to the top at about 5:20 am and waited for the sunset. We were 14,267 feet and had just spent the last four hours punishing our bodies to the top.... and here's what I thought.
1. It gets incredibly cold really fast when you stop moving.
2. Why am I doing this?? Why??
3. Holy crap, this must be how God sees.

We were above the clouds, we were literally looking down on the clouds, and it made me feel so small, but in such a good way. A I'm taken care of way. We stopped and froze and gazed, and then headed back to the car. I was a wreck for the rest of the day, completely worthless. But it was still so good. Why did I do this? Because pushing yourself feels so good.

See

I often feel like I've got everything figured out, that I'm wise beyond my years. But I always stumble pretty quickly when I look at how I see the world. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be able to see beyond the exteriors of this world and see the truth and heart in every person and everything. But I can't, and I don't. I want to get beyond the surface but I'm still somehow stuck on it. The perfect example for me is the rich guy in the nice suit with the blackberry and brand new lexus. There is more to him than these things, but I don't get past them, I write him off and go on my merry way....Another rich guy who only cares about money. What if we could all see properly just for a minute? What if we could see the heart in the wealthy, the poor?? How cool would that be? How about this, the next time I talk to you I promise I'll really listen? Maybe that's a start.

Live Music

I love live music. There is something about getting to experience a musician doing what they do best on a stage that just gets me going. You start bobbing your head a little bit, and before you know you're completely lost in the moment, and you end up feeling like you know the artist. It's just good. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Aaron Strumpel tonight, and as always he brought the goods. I've mentioned him before, but i just can't stress how honest and vulnerable and sweet his music his. Tonight as he was bantering between songs he said something that was just really cool......."I really struggle with not feeling loved, and not feeling like God loves me. I start getting busy, or listening to other things, and lies, and I just forget." And then he went into this song.

I remember the day you called my name, you said I was your child.
I remember the day you wrote the words, You wrote the book of love.
I remember your deeds, oh Dad, my God, I think I'll trust in you.

Love it. All we really have to do is just remember, right?

Seeing

I've been just getting through everything lately. Just plowing straight ahead, and surviving. And I feel like it's me being dull. Not really boring persay, I feel like I've really got a lot going on in my life right now. But dullness in the sense that I'm not sharp, I'm not thinking, I'm not seeking, and in my striving to just get through everything I'm missing out on the goods. I'm missing out what God has for me at work and in the small daily things, the people I randomly cross paths with, and all of those other small tuggings. Sunsets, wind, nice days, He's in all of it, I'm just not sharp enough to see.

Back Home

I've been back home in Texas for about 5 days for the wedding of two good friends. It's always weird when you get that direct comparison of your memories of home and the reality of what it looks like now. I've rediscovered how incredibly valuable lake houses are in the heat and also that global warming may be real, it is freaking hot down here. But all these things really aren't that important, it's the people, and catching up with old friends that makes going home so good and make the memories so sweet, and that has been great. I've had the joy of jumping off docks and catching things, video games, putt-putt, and basketball. And oh there is nothing better than basketball, I miss it dearly. The wedding is Friday, and there will be dancing!

Aaron Strumpel

Ally recently purchased this

For me. And it is excellent! Just a completely honest and vulnerable cd. I got to see him at everyday joe's not too long ago and the guy just rocked the freaking house. I can't recommend him enough. Are you bored right now? Go here: www.aaronstrumpel.com and listen to twenty-three. It's so so good. I am off to Texas and the heat, my pit stains say hello.

The 4th

It's been a crazy week. I moved into a house and took a road trip to Horseshoe Bay Texas with some friends and to the see the lady for the 4th of July. I love the roadtrip, it reminds me of being a kid with the parents driving.

Just a couple of things..... Colorado was absolutely gorgeous, green with mountains. Wakeboarding is freaking awesome, and sleep, even in a crummy motel can be so so sweet, and finally, the sun is not a friend to pale white boys. But despite that it was so good. I think that sometimes I get so caught up in figuring everything out, in having all the answers before I start, that I forget that sometimes you just have to go and do, put away all the cheat sheets, all the guessing games and just live. Go wakeboard all day until you can't think. It was good.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the most awesome, illest, bocan Lady out there! Love You!

Bored at work?

Things running a little slow today at the old office? Go here, www.freerice.com you can work on vocab, learn a new language, or master your sciences, and every right answer donates rice to people in need. It's so cool. Thanks to Carissa for the heads up.

So yesterday was a long day, not enough sleep, work dragged to the point that I would sneak off to take 5 minute naps at my desk, terrible terrible. But despite all this I decided to shoot some hoops post work. So I went out and shot and this random elderly chinese man showed up, and so we started to shoot around a little bit. He was wearing a fisherman's hat and plaid capri's and couldn't speak a lick of english. We obviously couldn't speak to each other, but that was easily circumnavigated with the lovely thumbs up, its international baby! Later he wrote on a peice of paper that he was 154 cm tall and was born in 1949. It was just really cool to hang out and sort of "communicate" with a 60 year old chinese man through basketball. The little things are so cool.

Making it through the week

You will turn your ear to me
You will hear my cry for mercy
You will loosen things unseen
What can man do to me?

Ken Griffey Jr.

When I was six years old my brother got this Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card in a pack of cards by Toys R' Us.

And I was hooked ever since. I became a Mariners fan, I started wearing my baseball pants long and my hats backwards, I wanted to bat like him, I wanted to be left handed like he was. I had posters, I played his video game, I even tried to get my ear pierced. He was my baseball idol and I've followed him for the last 19 years. Through the good times in Seattle and the not so good times in Cincinatti. And so last night, I took the 60 mile trek down to Denver with the hopes of finally seeing the man play in person. The Rockies are in the NL, and Griffey is now 39 years old and pretty much only DH's so things weren't looking too good. He wasn't in the starting line up, which was a little frustrating. But then, as luck, or God would have it, The Mariners were down 6-4 in the top of the ninth with the 7 8 9 hitters set to bat. Perfect! Could it be! A Griffey pinch hit in the bottom of the 9th to finish the game! I saw him get in the hole for the inning, and it was incredible. On Deck he still had it, still had that same swagger, that still perfect swing. And I got to see him bat for the first and probably only time in my life.



He worked the count and got walked. It was absolutely incredible! And so great to finally see him play before it became too late. Griffey Rules!!!!