Jesse J. Saunders

Blog is moving!

2010-02-17T19:19:00.002-06:00

Well, I can't say that I've been a consistant blogger in any way, but I am moving the blog to my new site at http://www.jessejsaunders.com/blog.

There will certainly be a bunch of garden updates as we get into into spring & summer with all of the lessons learned from our experiments last year, and hopefully some music as soon as I get some time to do some writing! Come on over and follow the new blog!

Food, Inc. -- Go see this movie!

2009-06-26T23:10:00.002-05:00

Tonight, Danielle & I saw the movie Food, Inc. It is a look inside the big business behind major food production, and paints a terribly brutal picture. Federal subsidies for big agriculture, engineering and modification of food, big business pressuring the small guy, and how we get the food we all eat. After doing some internet searches it seems that some of the companies attacked in the film are fighting back against some of the allegations, but the arguments seem pretty difficult to defend.

While we all know that fast food isn't healthy food and Coke isn't giving your body anything positive...it's amazing to see how these foods come to the store and who is behind them. It's certainly changed how I look at food and will greatly influence my decision to buy organic and local food whenever possible and grow as much as we can out at Cauble Farms.

On a side note, when the Wal-Mart reps visit the organic farm in Brattleboro, VT (home of a great New England event "Strolling of the Heifers") , it had to be quite an awkward visit, as the farmers stated "We've never been to a Wal-Mart"; not to mention the town of Brattleboro's effective protests that prevented a Wal-Mart from opening in the town several years ago. A store was eventually opened just across the river in Hinsdale, NH.

The movie is playing at the Regal Arbor in Austin, at a couple of theatres in D/FW and the Boston metro area. If it's playing near you, PLEASE go see it...if it's not, get your hands on the DVD when it comes out.

The trailer:

On a lighter note, we also saw a trailer for the movie Taking Woodstock, coming out August 14th. The "hippie born in the wrong generation" in me can't wait!

Late May Garden update

2009-05-31T20:53:00.007-05:00

This post was written at the end of may, but I forgot to post (sorry!)...another update coming soon!

Wow, 2 months since my last post! Between finishing up with grad school, keeping up with the garden, home church, and graduation, and family in town, it's been a busy few months.

Today a bunch of us got together to work out at Cauble Farms. We've eaten up all of the broccoli, cauliflower, red & bibb lettuce, collards, arugula, and cabbage, and are nearly done with the chard, onions, and strawberries (the latter of which have been really slow to produce). In their place we have planted tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, zuchinni, blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, cantelope, as we have pulled things over the last couple months. We still have a few things going from our original planting, including wildflowers, herbs, and leeks.

Today's work included lots of harvesting, weeding, putting up shade cloth (on the frames Josh & Aaron built a couple of weeks ago), planting black eyed peas as a cover crop until the fall, putting up a few bamboo tripods for the tomatoes to climb, mulching around some of the mature plants, and fertilizing to help increase the production of the flowering plants and cut down on pests that are munching on some of the eggplant and other plants.

crazy cucumber (tastes great!)

Flower bed, Shade cloth & tunes (today provided by: Crazy Joe & The Mad River Outlaws, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Swell Season)

Shade cloths to help cut down on the noon-day sun.

Ryan spreading some mulch

First harvest on the farm!

2009-03-21T17:58:00.014-05:00

Today saw another work day out on the farm, as we were able to have our first 'mini-harvest' of lettuce, chard, bibb lettuce, kale, broccoli, and radishes. We also put in: green & red peppers, hot peppers (including one plant claiming to be "the world's hottest peppers"), tomatoes, eggplant, beans, and hopefully some zuchini later this week.

While most of the things we planted a few weeks ago are taking off, the beans we'd planted just didn't take (we think it got too cold for them with the last cold snap), so we put some new seeds in. It was great to be able to get some veggies out of the garden. Now just waiting for a great salad with ingredients from the garden.

Some of the highlights:

Broccoli about to be harvested

Strawberries are making progress

LOTS of radishes

Bibb lettuce ready to be cut!

Danielle picking

Ashley planting peppers

Me planing peppers

Row of lettuce

Cabbage is getting huge

Ryan, we want a batch of salsa featuring these peppers!

Cauble Farms Part II

2009-02-09T17:40:00.013-06:00

So this weekend the whole Cauble Farms gang got out and put down soil, spread mulch, prepped row coverings, and planted a bunch of fruit/veggies (3 types of lettuce, 2 types of onions, leeks, arugula, beans, peas, kale, shard, broccoli, and cauliflower), a bunch of types of herbs, & lots of flowers! We were out most of the day Saturday and a couple hours of Sunday (in the crazy wind). It was pretty amazing to see the transformation of the garden in 36 hours.

Overnight we got a ton of rain, but I hear that aside from making the farm muddy, everything looks good, the plants didn't get washed away and the netting protecting the rows stayed in place!

A few more weeks and we'll get some later season veggies (carrots, squash, melons, etc.), but for now it's all about upkeep and looking out for bunnies trying to munch on our harvest!

Here are a few highlights from this weekend:

Beginning of Saturday

Ryan shoveling soil

Jy supervising the crew

Danielle & I working the flower beds

Mulched and Prepped Beds and rows

Putting out plants

Putting plants in the ground!

Rows, the two "upper" beds, and Lora's avocado tree

One of the eight square foot boxes

Planted square foot beds

Farmer Aaron looking forward to the harvest

Cauble Farms, Day 1

2009-01-31T21:37:00.013-06:00

This year the Cauble's, Sowers', Osborne's, Stearn's (I think), and Danielle & I are going to be farming an area of the Cauble's property which we've all named "Cauble Farms". Today was the first major work day on the farm. Ryan and I built boxes for the square foot garden boxes while the ladies roped of and began working the farm rows. Then we all worked to compost, double-dig, and recompost the row areas. Virtually all afternoon we worked to the jams of Mike Stearns & Nate Pina, which helped time fly by. We put in about 6 hours today, and I think we were all impressed with what we got accomplished. The row areas are looking really good and ready for soil.

Next week we're planning on prepping the box garden areas, spreading soil (which may get done mid-week) and get some plant starts and seeds in the ground.

The full photo collection is on my facebook, but here are the highlights:

My car overloaded with compost.

Yeah, it's a lot of compost

The ladies laying out the rows
Building the square foot boxes

Lora spreading compost.

Mike & Nate providing the tunes.

Finished rows & boxes

Jy hanging out when the Sower's stopped by to check out the progress.

Becuase we care

RPM Challenge 2009

2009-01-06T21:24:00.003-06:00

During the month of February, I'm planning on participating in the RPM Challenge, www.rpmchallenge.com. The goal of the challenge is to write and record an album worth of music (10 songs or 35 minutes), all during the February.

I've been trying to work on my songwriting over the last few months, after writing my first 'real' song last February. My writing has been extremely sporadic with very few songs being completed.

It's my hope that by forcing myself into a deadline that I'll be more efficient and productive in my writing/recording and get myself into a 'habit' of songwriting. Not sure how effective this will be, but certainly by doing a lot more writing the material should improve.

quick question

2008-11-23T23:26:00.004-06:00

Yes, I know that I've been really bad about posting to the blog lately. Hopefully I'll be better in the coming weeks.

One thought for the day...

Can anyone rock better or more consistently than Billy F. Gibbons?

Answer: A resounding NO!

Maine Man Song

2008-10-09T13:57:00.000-05:00

Maine Man Song

I can happily say I'm proud to be a "Down Easterner".

On the return of Phish...

2008-10-03T17:15:00.003-05:00

As referenced in my post on Wednesday, Phish is reuniting this March: nearly 5 years after the 'breakup', 11 years after my first show, and over 25 years since the band's first performance.

I have to admit that after the breakup, I took a bit of a break from Phish myself. Some shows, particularly high points of ones I attended and lots of the final weekend were actually tough to listen too. Ok, so the Coventry "Velvet Sea" still gets me.

After "broadening out" my musical tastes over the couple years, I've come back to Phish more and more over the last several months and rediscovering just how amazing the interplay is between these 4 guys is. I've enjoyed their solo projects a lot, but there's a certain something that only seems to happy when the 4 are together.

Danielle and I have always said, after sitting in traffic and not getting into Coventry, that we would do whatever we had to to be at the first show when the band got back together. Therefore, we're currently in the lottery for Hampton, VA tickets in March, and if we miss out there we'll go nuts on the phone & internet on the general on-sale date!

For the uninitiated, some of my phavorites that I was able to find on youtube
Punch You In The Eye (part of the Gamehenge saga)
Possum
Waste (this is actually the encore from my first show!)
You Enjoy Myself (part I -- part II

really? really? you're not kidding right?

2008-10-01T12:17:00.002-05:00

www.phish.com

The "new" Kerby Lane Cafe

2008-09-13T19:46:00.002-05:00

Next week will mark 3 years since Danielle & I moved to Austin, so I am in no way authorized to pine for "the good old days", but I can say that I'm really bummed about the "new" Kerby Lane Cafe location in North Austin.

The thing I've loved about Kerby Lane is the food, but the atmosphere is also great; relaxed, easy-going, really just feeling lived in. Two weeks ago the location on 183 moved north a couple of exits and to the other side of the highway, out of the old house-style building and into a big plaza location. I've been to the new location twice since opening, and while the food has remained the same (great!), the vibe is just different. While before the space felt like walking into someone's home: a little rough around the edges, picked up enough for company, but you could still tell they'd been there for years; the new location feels too slick and polished. Everything is fresh and new, a big tv in the waiting area, host & wait staff (while still the same personnel) being dressed a little nicer than normal, and new art on the freshly painted walls.

Don't get me wrong, the migas and french toast were still GREAT. But, I was actually somewhat contented this morning when I realized by plate had a chip taken out of the bottom of it. Hopefully the new, bigger location will alleviate some of the wait times, and that after it's open a few months it will start to acquire that good old Kerby Lane feel.

Meat or no meat...that is the question...

2008-09-12T23:32:00.003-05:00

Since the end of the spring semester, I have been trying to work out more and eat better. The goal is to improve my general health, and train for the Zilker Trail of Lights 5K in December. This has been moderately successful, as I have lost some weight, but my running has left a lot to be desired. With some new running shoes a few weeks ago, I'm hoping to step up my running to be able to do the 5K by December.

On the eating side, I've been thinking lately and realized how often I haven't felt well after eating (usually a lot) of meat as of late. Therefore, in order to help kick our healthy eating up a notch, Danielle and I have gone (mostly) vegetarian over the last couple of weeks. I'm by no means being hardcore about it, the chicken pot-pie at COM Group Tuesday was great! However, in general I've been amazed at how much better I've felt after eating, and how my Rolaids consumption has gone down.

I'm trying to make running a part of my normal routine, which hasn't (so far) been a great success, but is moving in the right direction. As for the -mostly- vegetarian food, we're thinking we'll try it out until the Mier's wedding in November and see where it goes from there.

What I Learned This Week

2008-09-07T20:01:00.002-05:00

So after a week of time in the studio with the JCB, getting back to class, spending too much time reading blogs, and church this morning...I have learned the following:

- Coffee is my friend.
- Don't ever trust cables from Guitar Center to work, even the first day.
- Fantasy Football has increased my interest in the NFL, to marginal.
- Always check the wiring before putting speakers back together, live or in the studio (had to do this twice before I learned)
- Museums have really inconvenient hours. M-F 10a-4p...really?
- I never remember to check the room number for my classes until 10 minutes before the first meeting.
- I'm breaking more strings than usual, not sure if I should start using thinner picks.
- Coffee is still my friend, and so is Jesus
- And as of 2 minutes ago... waiting to order dinner, for deliver, until 8:45 is a bad idea.

Hopefully I have a week at least as enlightening next week. We shall see.

moving closer to the next step...

2008-08-24T20:18:00.004-05:00

this wednesday begins my next to last semester of graduate school, which is scheduled for culmination in may 2009. this time next year i will (hopefully) have a full-time job as an archivist. grad school and a "real" job in the field i intend to to be my long-term career have been something that's been off in the horizon for several years now.

therefore, i'm both nervous and excited. i spent 5 1/2 years working various jobs between college and grad school, always seeing it as something...out there. now graduation and moving to the next stage seems imminent: a house, kids, building a long-term career, etc; and i can't wait.

now if my professors would just post the syllabi so i could know what i'm up against this semester...

Giving...

2008-06-23T21:26:00.003-05:00

I had a brief conversation with a friend yesterday. At his church on Sunday, "a young boy running down the aisle toward the row where the offering plate was being passed. He had this expression of total excitement on his face, a smile that went from ear to ear, and pure joy in giving his tithe."

Why does it seem that we don't have the same attitude toward giving to the mission of God (church, missionaries, etc)? As "grown-ups" why do we so often look at giving as being beaten up by "dutiful submission" instead of as a supreme joy of giving to God's work, something so much bigger than ourselves?

George Carlin, Dead at 71

2008-06-23T12:42:00.003-05:00

While certainly no saint, George was against pretty much any establishment there is, spoke out against injustice, wanted government out of people's lives to be able to live like you want and be left alone.

I didn't agree with all of his politics or social views, but on the whole, I agree with him more than nearly any politician/public figure.

Insane, but brilliant.

Our 2nd "Crash-a-versary"

2008-05-05T14:01:00.003-05:00

So for most people today is just Cinco de Mayo, but for Danielle & I it's our 2nd "crash-a-versary".

We had just crossed into Memphis, TN on our way to her Grandparent's 50th Anniversary party (in Nashville) when we came up on rush hour traffic. The Class A motor home behind us hadn't noticed the impending traffic and wound up going more or less over top of us (me driving, Danielle in passenger seat), and sent us pinging into the guardrails and other cars on the highway.

It's amazing to look at the photos and see how incredibly "smushed" the car was. We were reported as dead on the evening news, and the hospital staff said "wait, you were in the red car, we weren't expecting anyone from that car" when we arrived. However, we walked away, Danielle with massive bruising throughout her torso, and me with 2 broken ribs and a good cut on my arm after only 12 hours in the hospital. Unfortunately, my first Taylor 110 wasn't so lucky, as it wound up being the thickness of a Telecaster in the back seat. Thankfully, Danielle's cousin decided to fly at the last minute, or else he would have been in that seat.

However, we're amazingly blessed to have been able to walk away (even if with lots of painkillers) and not have any long-term effects.

Front driver side

Front of car

Back of car - that's the rear bumper laid across the top

Rear - at least my Birkenstock's were saved

The back seat & Taylor 110

Taylor 110

New Pedalboard

2008-05-02T14:14:00.002-05:00

my new board. i'd really considered a Pedaltrain board/case (about $160) but wound up going with a $7 Goodwill suitcase, $4 piece of 1/2" plywood from Home Depot, and paint/velcro that I had in the utility room.

Signal Chain:
72' Tele Custom RI/Yamaha Strat/Taylor 110 > DT-10 > EB Volume > Analogman TS-9/Silver > Analogman SD-1/808 > Sparkle Drive (for clean boost only) > SCH-Z > True Bypass Loop for E-1010 (and then E-1010) > DD-5 > Nau Engineering Tremolo > Headrush E2 > A/B/Y
A > Amp (Electric)
B > DI (Acoustic)

This thing's heavy, but I'm finally able to get everything I really want on my board!

After a quick lunch, I'm playing for the rest of the afternoon!

I need to find a turntable

2008-04-24T15:42:00.003-05:00

After finding a copy of ZZ Top's Fandango on ebay for Josh, I also picked up a few John Denver records. I'm now being hit with need for a turntable, and the urge to go scour Cheapo on Lamar

I can't wait to return to the world of analog!

Great election entertainment

2008-01-03T15:09:00.000-06:00

I found the following link through a political blog covering the primaries. Basically a Street Fighter type game with all the presidential candidates. Hilarious and a great time waster!

HERE

Christmas in Ohio

2008-01-01T10:47:00.000-06:00

There's nothing like spending 6 days on vacation in Ohio, especially at Danielle's parent's house. They live pretty well "out in the country" in the middle of 12 acres of farmland (which is worked by the neighbor from whom they bought the land and still works his 40 acres at over 70 years old).

It was a great time to hang out and relax. I think it's the first time in 2 or 3 years that I've gone an entire week without checking e-mail, nevermind things like facebook, myspace, guitar forums, etc.

I'm really looking forward to getting back to a more 'regular' life, and doing school full time this semester!

Finally!

2007-12-20T08:01:00.001-06:00

After almost 2 weeks since handing in my last assignment, all my grades are in. Not a great semester, but I can't complain.

A few hours of work today and at 2:30 this afternoon I'm off until Jan 3rd. Ohhh, sweet Christmas break!

10 Years Later

2007-12-19T19:53:00.000-06:00

So I'm a week behind, but last Tuesday was the 10th anniversary of my first Phish show (12/11/97). I was in the middle of my senior year of high school and had just been turned on to the band a month earlier after being entrenched in the punk/hardcore scene for several years. After two sets and a short encore I was completely a sold on the hippie/jamband world.

Seven years and 15+ shows later, Danielle and I spent 2.5 days in traffic on the highway just trying to get into their last show in VT (major rain had made it nearly impossible for them to get people into the camping area).

There is nothing quite like the interplay & music of those four guys. Hopefully one of the reunion rumors will pan out, hopefully...

Changing blog address!

2007-12-03T20:40:00.000-06:00

When I setup the blog (which I'm recommitting to posting on regularly) I used the cute name "yankee boy in texas". However, I'm going to switch over to just using my name, it just seems more straightforward and clear.

The new address will be www.jessejsaunders.blogspot.com

If anyone's actually reading this (Kevin, this means you; anyone else...Beuller?) update your links.

Thanks!

Alaska, Africa, and SE Asia

2007-12-03T20:13:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday the Vista had a strong mission focus (as though we don't usually). Hearing from the Bedwell's as they're about to head to Alaska with the dream of planting a church and the Africa team who just returned from 11 days in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and talking to the Cofield's as they prepare for SE Asia, I was hit by people's need for the gospel in a new way.

I grew up in a church that gave a little bit of money to some missionaries, had them come through for for a Sunday afternoon talk every once in a while, but overall didn't seem excited and motivated to work on reaching out to people where they were at. I'm so proud to be involved with a church that, despite it's relatively small size, is so moved to go and tell people and do so in a way that isn't always comfortable and easy, because it's necessary.

You have to be kidding me (TX Legislature)

2007-09-28T13:47:00.001-05:00

I was tipped off to this news video on YouTube. It's just amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask

You tax dollars and elected officials hard at work!

Freshman! (and their parents)

2007-08-22T13:17:00.000-05:00

Wow, I hadn't realized how old I've become, but today I went to the bookstore for my fall textbooks and a few supplies. The spring and summer trips weren't that bad, but today the whole place was overrun by brand new freshmen and their parents! I couldn't believe how incredibly far away from them I felt, as I almost felt closer to the parents while walking around.

Thankfully the School of Information/Archives aisle was fairly deserted!

Finally, a decent Grinder in Texas

2007-08-04T08:32:00.000-05:00

So after almost 2 years, Danielle & I have finally found a place in Austin that will make a decent Chicken Cutlet Grinder. You wouldn't think it would be so hard to put fried chicken on a roll with cheese, mayo, lettuce, and tomato, but we've had several places fail terribly.

mmm...

Pay attention to your playlist.

2007-07-03T17:51:00.000-05:00

Sitting in Starbucks, trying to crank out some homework and listening to the Allman Brothers Band, The Fillmore Concerts. After about 2 hours I unknowingly hit the next artist in my play list and am blindsided by the Barenaked Ladies, Gordon. Great/happy music, but after zoning out to the Allmans quite a shock.

If you're not familiar with the Allmans, the Fillmore Concerts is a great 2-disc intro fo the band in their prime, amazing live blues-rock w/ some serious underlying jazz influences.

Ahh, Family

2007-06-26T14:57:00.000-05:00

The trip to NY went well, I got to hang out with them a bunch. Somehow this was the only family picture I got from the whole weekend. After 5 days it was great to be back home.

Frightening, I just referred to Texas at home!

Heading to NY

2007-06-15T10:16:00.000-05:00

My little brother, Jacob, is graduating from high school next week. It's making me feel old (or maybe 'out of date') as he was 9 years old when I moved out the house after high school and 12 when Danielle & I got married.

If you've met him, you realize how scary him being an adult (as supposedly responsible!) is.

Congrats, bro!

Rollerderby

2007-06-10T15:25:00.000-05:00

Last week was Danielle's birthday, and at her suggestion we went to the Texas Rollergirls Rollerderby match last Sunday. It was an interesting crowd, but we had a great time. During the season, they have matches the first Sunday of every month. Check out their website for more info.

End of first Grad School Semester

2007-05-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I set out at the beginning of the semester to start blogging regularly, now I've hit the end of the first semester and realized that this is only my 4th post!

My first semester went well, I'm still waiting to getting my grades back. Lots has been going on as well, Going to a Red Sox/Rangers game opening weekend, playing a bunch at Church, and replacing my old station wagon with an '04 Element. Nearly every week there I have thought of something worth posting, but haven't been able to make time for it. It's my goal to make that end.

Street Peachers on Campus

2007-02-28T12:57:00.000-06:00

There was a street preacher here a couple of weeks ago who seemed relatively normal, sitting among students answering their questions. Seemed to be no big deal, apparently this guy has been coming to UT for 20+ years.

Then last week there were a group of guys who are "shouting" Jesus at people. No personal engagement, just yelling into the crowds of students going by. This did nothing but annoy all the students in the area and even elicited a bunch of angry shouting back.

I just wonder if these guys realize that they are only lessening people's view of Christians and Christianity on campus? "Oh, you're a Christian, just like that nut in front of the Union."

Thanks guys. Now those of us who try to have reasonable rational conversations with people have to work through your baggage before getting people to trust and engage with us.

A JCB crisis of identity

2007-02-19T20:30:00.000-06:00

Since last June I've been running sound for the Justin Cofield Band at the Vista Community Church. Last weekend I was able to go with them to a youth camp hear Highland Lake, just south of Austin. Wow! These mild mannered guys from Sunday mornings came out and ROCKED! The whole way home I just kept wondering what the differance was and why it was such a different vibe on Sundays.

Perhaps it's the fact that they're leading worship for a bunch of crazy youth, perhaps it's just way too early on Sunday mornings, or that we're meeting in an elementary school gym, whatever the reason it was almost like having a different band.

I'm looking forward to the day when the Vista is ready for the JCB to truely bring the rock.

My wife ROCKS!!

2007-02-04T18:12:00.000-06:00

Growing up I played hockey for several years. It was the closest I ever became to being a jock (although it was still pretty far away).

Anyway, I haven't played or even been to a game in 8-10 years, although Danielle has heard me talk about talk about it from time time. So this weekend she surprised me by getting tickets to an Austin Ice Bats game. It was a great time! I was really surprised how much I missed it.

We've been married five years now and I still can't believe that I'm married to such a great woman.

Inaugural Post

2007-01-31T18:05:00.000-06:00

So I've tried the blogging thing once or twice before, but as I start grad school it seems like a good time to document everything going on. Like my life it'll be all over the place and probably touch on a broad range of topics. Read if you want, comment if you feel like it, and ignore me if I'm boring (which very well could be often).

A short intro to where I'm coming from... I'm a full time employee with the McCombs School of Business Texas Executive MBA Program and a first semester student with the School of Information, both at the University of Texas at Austin. I'm highly involved with my church, where I run sound and play in the 'house' band when the JCB is out of town. While my wife and I now live in Texas, I'm definitely a New Englander through and through (hence the title of the blog), and lets not forget that with the traditional definition, all true Yankees root for the Red Sox.