Hobbies - part deux

So when I wrote Hobbies part one, I decided that the best course of action for me is music.  Playing at church is great, and I love being able to worship with resounding cymbals (Psalm 150).  But sometimes you just need to rock.  So my journey began...

If your a musician and you want to join an existing band, of course you go to Craig's List or Guitar Center.  Since I didn't feel like driving to G.C., I chose Craig's List because it's easier and I'm less likely to spend money.  So I respond to an add of a guy looking for a drummer, there are a few out there, but mostly looking for Heavy Metal or something like that.  This add was looking for someone older.  Anyways, after a few emails back and forth, we decided to meet at a local club that basically did an open mic blues night.  To make a long story short, they chose to go with a different drummer because he was closer.  (turns out later that he quit because they didn't play enough Beatle songs.  I know this because they called me the other day to see if I was still interested.)

So finding out I got the boot, I went back to Craig's list a few days later to see if there was anything new...that's when I saw this:

http://boise.craigslist.org/muc/2183977050.html

I emailed them on Friday, right before heading to the dentist.  They emailed back later that night wanting to talk, having had some dental work done, I was still numb and not able to talk well, so I said i'd call the next day.  Saturday was a busy day, and went something like this....

8:00 AM - Wake Up
9:00AM - Worship team rehearsal @ CGC
10:30AM - Head to McDonald's for Isaac's BD Party, Call Patrick en route.  During the conversation, we managed to setup an "audition" that evening.
12:00PM - not having any drum sticks (there were all at CGC) I ran to G.C. and bought a pair of my favorite Dave Weckl sticks  and some guitar picks because I was out.

7:00PM - Head over to the audition....play my heart out, apparently I don't play very loud...but I do now.
10:15PM - Leave, very satisfied, and excited.

During those three hours, I realized several things.

1. These guys have there stuff together.  They are professional, a very tight sound, and extremely loud.
2. I need some more sticks since the pair I just bought broke.
3. I love playing rock songs, having just rocked out to the following
1. Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
2. White Wedding - Billy Idol
3. Money - Pink Floyd
4. Somebody - Bryan Adams
5. and several others, but it was a blurr....
4. Gotta figure out how to play more and get my chops back up to speed.

so the question was posed to me, how can you learn new songs, when your drums are at church?  I responded with a challenge of "give me three songs, and I'll come back next week and play them".  The next several days have been spent listening over and over and over and over and over to:

• Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts                                                                        
• Middle - Jimmy Eats World
• Wall - Pink Floyd (a medley they play often.  Almost 8 minutes long)

Tonight, I just got home after my second audition, having played the three songs above (several time to work out some kinks) as well as a bunch of other songs I couldn't even begin to tell you, but rang from Bryan Adams, Billy Idol, Foo Fighters, Smash Mouth, briefly touched Spinal Tap and Rush, and others.  We all had a real fun time.  Of course my butt was a little sore as the drum stool was a bit firm.  But i got to play with a double bass pedal, which was a first (gonna have to work on that).
I left that garage tonight with high hopes.  Was I perfect, no.  Can I improve, of course.  I believe that I can contribute a lot to this working band.  They play locally, but they have also done gigs in Redding, CA, Walnut Creek, CA, and even as far south as Los Angeles.  Playing in an actual working rock band has always been a dream of mine, but so far fetched that I've never pursued it till now.

Even though they didn't know "Dreams" by Van Halen (not that any of us can sing it anyways), these guys can rock.  Regardless of the outcome, I had a great time playing with them.  I just hope I can do it on a regular basis...

...stay tuned sports fans, I should be getting a call tomorrow...

Hobbies

Each week has 168 hours, no more, no less.  So how does one occupy this time?  I've been asking myself this question a lot lately, not because I have a great amount of time, but more to the point that I could be doing more with my time.  I need a hobby.  Something that doesn't cost a lot. Something that I enjoy.  Something productive.

hob·by 

[hob-ee] 

–noun, plural -bies.

1.

an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation andnot as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

Fishing - There's a lot involved with fishing.  I hear it's very therapeutic, but it's also very cold out.  Locally, I understand fly fishing is the way to go.  This would require new equipment, classes, licenses, etc.  But it's seasonal so.....

Hunting - Again, seasonal.  But the idea of being able to fill up my freezer is very inviting, and cost effective as a 30-06 bullet can cost up to a few dollars, but a freezer full of meat is worth it.  Locally, everyone and their grandmother hunts.  They learned from their dads.  It's not something that you can just go out and do, again, there's a lot too it.

Woodcarving - thanks, but no

Cooking - I love to cook.  Lately, I've been doing more in the kitchen and some of it has been really good.  I don't always write down my recipes, I see it more as methods than math...but that of course is another blog.

Music - I love to play, I wish I could play more, so why don't I?  I'm currently in the process of checking out local bands that need a drummer.  (There's more than you think)

Don't take me the wrong way, I am still very much a father, a husband, a son, and friend to many. But for sanity sake, I need something to break up the routine. Something to keep my mind busy and not venture off into the abyss of madness, like a ticking clock that skips every other second and then wonders why it's late.

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...watching American Idol in the background and some guy just sang "Bad Romance"....judges laughed and did not give him a ticket, but I thought he sounded very much like the original, without the auto-tune...

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So what was I saying? Oh, yeah, the abyss.....like an older camera without a video card, where does it all go? An unopened box of Windows 3.1, is it worth anything? Could you give it away?  I just want to tell you how I'm feeling.  Gotta make you understand, I'm never gonna give you up, never gonna let you gooo...DARN IT!  I just got Rick Rolled.

God Bless, and Good Night

-B

Observations...

Each day we notice things that often go unnoticed, which is why I try to take notice of them.  Not for any deep philosophical reason, but just for the heck of it...maybe I'm bored...maybe it'll be something that will make sense later, I have no idea.  For instance....

...I see the same SUV with Virginia Government plates on my way to work every day, who is this person and where are they going?  I'd follow them, but I think that might be considered stalking

...when I drop off Royal at day care, there is on average about 3 really nice cars/suv/trucks with their engines running, doors unlocked, and empty....it's not that cold out.  I wouldn't steal a car, I'm just saying, I lock my doors when I'm not in the car, maybe it's a touch of California?

...the blue mac & cheese boxes don't open as easy as I remember them.  Does this mean they make the boxes stronger?  am i getting weaker?  or is it that the craving for the blue box isn't nearly as strong as it was when I was younger so I'm contributing less effort?

...I don't want to be political, but it's hard not to.  So this guy in AZ is clearly a little off his rocker, and decides to engage in a horrific event and take the lives of innocent people.  Why do people on the same day, within hours of the event start pointing fingers at who's to blame?  Is America that insecure?  Yes we know who pulled the trigger, but we don't know why, yet.  Should we rush to judgement and make a bunch of emotional decisions, or wait for more detail and be rational in our thinking and morn the loss we all just suffered.  Can a bunch of laws and regulations prevent this from happening again?  Probably not, all that would do is anger more people.  The big thing is this...we are all going to pass on eventually.  I pray that I'll be with my savior when that day comes, but there is no way to tell when that day is.  A high school buddy,  Justin McRoberts, is a singer/songwriter, wrote some lyrics that stick with with.  "The question isn't are you going to die, you're going to die.  But will you be done living when you do"  Life is a journey, enjoy the adventure....

...why do new socks rock so much?  Because they do!

I'll leave that last one for you to answer...

Turkey Time

So Thanksgiving is upon us and the time to gorge yourself has finally arrived.  Of course I don't intend to gorge, I'm sure no one really does, but it happens and can't be helped.  So deal with it.  Since we got invited to a friend's house this year, I have no need to prepare the normal meal...but I got a turkey anyways.  Since the turkey has been thawing, I keep going back and forth on an important issue.  No, not the brine, the brine is a given.  How to cook the bird.  Normally we stick it in our showtime rotisserie, and it turns out awesome.  But because the bird is always in motion and self basting itself, we don't get as much drippings as normal.  Because of this I feel the gravy suffers, as does the potatoes and stuffing.

So the question is applied, to Rotisserie, or not.  We'll be cooking the bird on Friday or Saturday, so stay tuned for the final results...

The Holidays...

So is anyone else looking forward to the holidays?  I'm not sure if I am, or if I'm not.  Don't get me wrong.  There are a lot of aspects about the season that I love, but then there are some I think I could do with out.  I hope to openly convey my feelings about both.

Thinking of this in time-line pattern, first on the list is Thanksgiving.  Typically, we would make some kind of trek to see family, but this year we're staying put.  Which isn't a bad thing, we've done it before.  This year feels different, and I can't explain why.  We got invited to go to a friends house, which I'm totally up for. (This guy can cook! Ask me about his balsamic reduction)  Since I love to cook, I'm hoping to do a thanksgiving style dinner at home as well, or at least cook the food and eat it as left overs.  I'd like to make a sandwich with some thinly sliced turkey (brined and cooked rotisserie style), some mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy...all wrapped up in a nice warm roll....on a snowy day.  Doesn't get better than that, does it?  I think once I get one of those, I'll be happy happy.

Don't get me wrong, my life doesn't revolve around food, however I do like having meals to look forward to.  Lately I've been experimenting and cooking new things.  They've all been good, but nothing with that 'wow' factor.  Sheperd's Pie, Chili Verde are two dishes that stand out.  Both were good, but could have been better with little tweaks.  So moving on, there's my mom's birthday, Isaac's birthday, and then Christmas.  Now that is something I'm looking forward to. Mix in company holidays and it will almost be a two week trip!

First we head down to Concord, CA where we'll be staying a small moderate temporary living establishment. Centrally located, and relatively close to my favorite Mexican Restaurant, El Faro!  I give this place a 6 on a scale of 1-5.  We'll be hanging with the family for about 5 days, then it's up the coast to the in-laws in Oregon.

(Because I know my mom is thinking it, our house will be occupied by a heavily armed friend and our man-eating dogs)

We'll be up in Oregon for almost another 5 days...of course I don't know what we'll be doing, but last time we were there, there was talk of going to the coast.  So I guess it's all weather permitting, but it's still gonna be fun.  The down side is the driving...this is going to be a looooong trip.  Hopefully the weather is good and the roads are clear.

Peace!

(interesting, that in a holiday post, the only picture I put up is a burrito....)

Aspiring for the most promising results

So at work today, a few of us would use the term....do (action) and hope for the best.  Apparently that is frowned up, so in jest we now say 'Aspiring for the most promising results', because in some situations that's all you can do.  Faith is required and every aspect of life requires a little faith. (not a George Michael song).

2 or 3 weeks ago, I'm having a conversation with my pastor, just your basic chit chat, nothing too deep.  And we talked about travel and kept talking about Mexico, well one thing led to another and he stated that we (our church) needed someone like me to grab the ropes on something like that and run with it.  Before I knew it, I'm maping out travel plans, I'm contacting Missionary camps that house American groups, and organizing meetings.  Am I in over my head, or am I being drawn by a little bit of faith.

All through high school and beyond, I've had a calling to the mission field, but never had enough courage to take that plunge of full time missions.  I did a 3 month stint at a place called Rancho Agua Viva during the summer of 96.  And that was one of the hardest summers of my life, not just physically, but emotionally.  During that time, I did make some good friends whom I'm still in touch with today.  As a matter of fact, two of them are running the camp that I'm hoping to stay at next July.  Las Tres Palmas is part of Real Life Ministries and run by Dennis and Debbi Hollenbeck.  Dennis and Debbi were staff at Agua Viva during my 3 month stint and a cool set of people.

The heart is willing, but sadly we live in a society where that just isn't enough.  I would like to ask for prayer for several things over the next 8 months....

• Prayer for those who are called to this ministry
• Prayer that the resources needed are provided
• Prayer that this is God's will

-Brian

I am

I blog, therefore I am....seriously though, since I woke up this morning, I've been thinking about taking some lamaze classes.  I'm not pregnant or anything, I'm just having trouble breathing...

chili verde tonight....WOOT!