Giving...

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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!