take the road that leads to mine*

“So, you having hard and fast rules for dating?”, she said.  “Well yes, I don’t date anyone who hasn’t be divorced for at least a year.” I replied.   She comes back with, “I’ve haven’t been that long, but I’ve been on my own for a couple of years.”  I was inwardly wiping my brow at this point.  And after a few more weeks I was thankful that my inner ass hole didn’t get in the way of this.

For Christmas, Laura gave me a frame with pictures of our honeymoon.  The drive down the coast, the pictures together and other images of our trip.  But the memories carved in my heart from those few days continue to make my lips turn up as i dwell on our time together.  I’m thankful that I didn’t get in the way, that I bit my list and trusted.

* Peter Bradley Adams – For You

2009 Like I know music

Writing a top 10 is like telling everyone you actually know something about being a music critic.  Truth is when I put down 10 albums I’m doing it based on 10 albums I couldn’t keep off my stereo whether it be in my truck, on the computer or on the ipod.  So this is my taste and explanations will follow.

Bob Schneider – Lovely Creatures

Love Bob, Loved the album though some say he was too clean.  40 Dogs if it made it out of Austin would be an Adult Contemporary hit.  Plus Bob live, come on.

Steve Earle – Townes

Yeah, it’s an album of covers but if you’re going to cover someone why not Townes Van Zandt.  Saw Steve last year but was sick, not cool.

Buddy & Julie Miller – Written in Chalk

They never fail to write the most down to earth songs and lyrics.  I loved Ellis county because I spent a bunch of time in Ellis County and can see them farmers eking out a living.  Love to have seen them in concert but it’s not going to happen with Julie’s health.  Hope to see The Girls and their buddy this year.

The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

This was one of my favorites, like Bon Iver was in 06 and Blitzen Trappen was last year.  Just good hearted music with cool lyrics.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero’s – Self Titled

Wow, saw a video after their SXSW show that just caught my spirit.  Their music reminds me of what I was listening too in the late 70’s but less drugs more fun.  Watching two people dance around on stage singing together is just plain cool.

Estonian Philharmonic – Part: In Principio

You all can have your Glee, I’ll take my Arvo Part and day of the week.  This will be sung by Chamber Choir’s within months of it hitting the stands.  Though it could be the reason I had terrible weeks in the valley, dark and foreboding.

Grace Pettis – Self Titled

What a frosh release from the girl I call the human songwriting machine.  Though late in the year the songs have been in my head for a couple of years.  Not to mention she played at my 50^th birthday party.

Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

I love Neko, and I love this album a lot.  For some reason it never left the playlist and spent many of time walking the irrigation canals of the Rio Grande Valley.

Regina Specktor – Far

Needless to say if she releases and album I’m going to listen to it, not in the vein of Joni Mitchell but pretty dang sure it’s close.

U2 – No Line On the Horizon

Laura, loved this album I loved it too, just not as much.  But then again she is a critic so she probably has one on me here.  Not to say I don’t think it belongs, it’s a great album and it was on my IPod a bunch, I just try not to get caught up in the hype (deserved or not)

Honorable Mentions

Over the Rhine – Live from Nowhere, Volume 4 (Worst of the 4 but still OTR)

The Low Anthem – Oh My God Charlie Darwin  (Great album just not one of my favorites)

Pierce Pettis – That Kind of Love (Should be in the top 10, don’t know why it’s here, probably some subconscious thing about Father Daughter’s being together on a list)

Best blast from the past:

Cheap Trick – The Latest Wow good power pop has revisited the planet through Cheap Trick.

Albums need to spend more time listening too.

Switchfoot – Hurricane (Not growing on me)

WPA – WPA (Super group, not so Super, but always like me some Glen Phillips)

Peter Bradley Adams (only listened to once, so give me time)

The Swell Season (once through also but like it)

Best two opening songs:

Lisbee Stainton – Girl on an Unmade Bed (Love the first two songs, great songs, then pretty much goes into hibernation)

Most listened to album of the year:

Molly Venter – Love Me Like you Mean it.  (OK this album never left the rotation, actually next to Lovely Creatures it was pretty much abused in my IPOD.  We saw here twice last year, once, on Abbot Kinney in Venice and at Momo’s above Katz’s Deli in Austin.  Molly is just Molly and good folk singer from back East who resides in Austin. And, I mean AND, Molly might be playing at church sometime.

Favorite Concert:  Well you would think having Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp play in your backyard you would go and pretty much think it’s the best concert of the year.  But I’m going to have to say I wasn’t interested in going.  Now that you have forgiven me let me get back to my favorite concert.  We didn’t do many concerts this year so it is a little thin.  But Over the Rhine for two nights at Texas Union Theatre where they didn’t repeat any songs was quite amazing.  Followed closely of hearing my Joni Friends on the couch in Idylwild, CA.

Disappointing Concert:  Shawn Colvin – One World Theatre.  She was exhausted and not feeling well and was in between dates on the Three Girls and their Buddy tour so they flew here in from NYC and then flew her back out.  Buddy had his heart attack not to much latter.

What’s Coming UP: New Patty Griffin on January 1^st (produced by Buddy Miller)  And of course Laura’s Christmas present was tickets for us to go (see how I get to go too) Patty in Concert.  John Mayer Concert in March.  Sam Phillips will keep releasing EP’s and a new LP (best $50 I’ve spent recently)

we’re like good times that haven’t happened yet, but will*

everyday i’m blessed to say in my heart that this day with Laura was better then the last day and tomorrow will be even better.  when I drive away many of Monday’s, i find myself aching to be home, to be by her side.   drinking coffee together in the mornings is my favorite.  We might not converse often but her being close is, well is.  it’s that feeling you get when you get a good breath of fresh air, or you smell rain in the air and it makes you smile, or that first glass of milk after being in the mountains for a few days.   You savor it, you dream about it and it never disappoints.

* Bob Schneider – 40 Dogs (Like romeo and juliet)

those who do these things will never be moved.*

the travel is getting me down, it’s different from a journey.  at least with a journey you are able to take in all that is around you, breath it in, drink it up.  but travel it’s just about getting to a destination, it’s not even bothering to glance at things around you, its all business and business is well….dull.  yeah, you might disagree but i’ve always kept my eyes open and always enjoyed the passing landscape.  When your on a journey you listen, your eager for conversation with strangers…when you travel you’ve got the windows rolled up and heavily tinted so you can barely see out and no one can see in.   on a journey your senses are attune to listen and see, when you travel, you look for places to whole up.  i despise the travel and desire the journey… i’m tired of wandering…. i desire to walk with my head up breathing in all that is created.

*psalm 15

np: hush now — otr (vol 3)

Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.

Ash Wednesday is upon us.  Helmut Thielicke — The seat of our disease, is not in the branches of our nerves at all but rather in our roots which are stunted and starved.

With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:6-8

During the Lenten season I’ve given up many things, TV, caffeine and toothpicks.  This year I’ve spent the last day meditating on what is needed to draw me closer.  For my health I’m walking way from red meat.  For my spiritual health I’m turning off the morning news.  These are little things in the big picture, but the focus will be good in the morning.  It will allow me to spend time which I’ve desperately needed, to focus on my prayers for others, my church and me.

NP:  Find Love – Clem Snide

My Only Offer*

In 2007 almost anyone who was anybody released an album. That probably was the dilemma last year as I was putting together my Christmas album there were to many tracks and it became hard to weed it down to a cd that gets annually mailed out to my friends.

2008 might find me in a state of not finding enough songs to put on the CD. I’ve been spending the last few weeks dedicating my hour or hour and a half walk pouring over 2008 releases that I’ve owned and even purchasing a few extra just to see if I could come up with album I would feel comfortable sending out. I’m putting one out this year but like this year in music, I’m feeling rather ho hum about it.

So all of you who are putting out your favorite albums of 2008, I’m glad someone could find 10 albums they listened to over and over. So this year I might just put out my favorite two albums of the year. Oh that be pessimistic, lets’ lean on five.

After telling Brandon my dilemma he was kind enough to offer Mates of State to the list. I’ve partaken in the past but just felt they were, well fluff. Not to say I’ve never listened to fluff, so I partook. They have grown quite a bit from the past sugar water and actually became quite listenable if that’s a word. So we shall see. So my most listened to albums for this year are:

5. Eliza Gilkyson’s – Beautiful World

4. Ray LaMontagne – Gossip in the Grain

3. The Weepies – Hideaway

2. The Sand Band – Secret Chord

2. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes

1. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

Now those are from this year but probably the album I listened to the most was Andy Palacio’s – Watina.

*Mates of State – Re-arrange Us.

PS:  Can you figure out the above song from the WORDLE?

the God who comes

His coming is bound to his promise, not to our works or virtue.  We have not earned the meeting with God because we have served him faithfully in our brethren, or because we have heaped up such a pile of virtue as to shine before Heaven.

by Carlo Carretto

*many the time’s i’ve been mistaken…

I once preached a message that I neither believed in or could do myself.  Okay, maybe more then once.  Yet I’ve learned that perfection has slipped through my fingers along time a go.  Now I try to just love people better but realize that does not always happen, that emotions sometimes dictate my mood and if I’m not centered well you know. Yet again striving for sainthood was not ever an option.  i’m flesh and blood…i’m part of this grand mass of humanity that never seems to get it right everyday, and sometimes rarely a day.  but, it’s alright……it’s alright……  i’m know i’m loved…and I know I love you.

*Paul Simon – American Tune

i’m alright at least I can’t complain*

Was lucky enough to catch KNYC public radio this morning on the way to the airport.  The discussion was on songs that have meaning during elections.  This was a song Paul Simon penned after Richard Nixon’s reelection in 1972.  Place close attention to the second paragraph, it speaks to a place that humanity is at right now.  But God is faithful and like Paul Simon because where I’m at right now I can’t complain but encourage my friends.

American Tune

Many’s the time I’ve been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
But I’m all right, I’m all right
I’m just weary to my bones
Still, you don’t expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

And I don’t know a soul who’s not been battered
I don’t have a friend who feels at ease
I don’t know a dream that’s not been shattered
or driven to its knees
But it’s all right, it’s all right
We’ve lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road
we’re traveling on
I wonder what went wrong
I can’t help it, I wonder what went wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
And I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the ages most uncertain hour
and sing an American tune
But it’s all right, it’s all right
You can’t be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow’s going to be another working day
And I’m trying to get some rest
That’s all I’m trying to get some rest

*Paul Simon – American Tune

best goobernatorial quote of all time san Rick “I feel your pain” Perry

If Texas Monthly doesn’t give Rick Perry the “Bum Steer” award for 2009 then there is no justice in the Lone Star State, and I will be forced to move.  Perry was quoted this last week in response to the plight of the Hurricane Ike victims to say. “I absolutely understand they want to get back to their homes … I’d like to get back to the mansion,” Perry said.  I’m flabbergasted.  Check out John Kelso’s article in todays Statesman.