What else can I say? Its a life! or... a girl changes everything!

My blog was on its way to becoming a cliche, you know the one where you look for a key word using Google and someone's blog from 2002 pops up and their January post was the last one. 

Anyway, we're having a girl! Yeah it's crazy but I think I can handle it. Even though I had reasons for wanting either gender, its good to finally know now. (Google: tips for raising girls).

So much preparation, and of course in our society, so little time, but time won't wait and neither will our little girl. I become overwhelmed and excited in small intervals at the thought of being a parent, while looking forward to having the title I've wanted most my life. And I see how marriage takes on yet another purpose.

  

New Family Member

Airport Music

I flew on 8 flights in the past month or so. Walking through busy airports, getting on and off planes all require music. There's something about walking in a maze of people listening to music that makes you feel like you're not participating in it all and provides the continuing soundtrack of life.

I walk and watch as a mother struggles to get her kid to sit down in her stroller, I see a family standing in line to get overpriced food, I watch as Tony Dungy & family get on a plane in Tampa, I watch as my wife tries to finish a 32 oz. smoothie, I observe 70% of the people I see on their cell phones, I flip through a commemorative issue of People magazine, I search for seat 11c all while music accompanies the scenery.

My "flight plan" mix:

All along The Watchtower (Alternate)-Jimmy Hendrix
Fidelity-Regina Spektor
Talk (thin white duke mix)-Coldplay
Landed-Ben Folds
Forever Blue-Little River Band
Big Love-Fleetwood Mac
Baba O'Riley-The Who
God Only Knows-The Beach Boys
Welcome to The Jungle-Guns n' Roses
Virtual Insanity-Jamiroquai
Radio Nowhere-Bruce Springsteen
Magic-Ben Folds
The Payback-James Brown
Begin-Brendan James
Life in Technicolor II-Coldplay

Jimmy Hendrix and James Brown were best for walking through the crowd/deplaning.

When you have some time to reflect, what do you think about? I mean, is it ever structured? I recently was thinking...

UNBIBLICAL

When we deem or say that something is unbiblical, what is really meant? Can something be considered unbiblical simply because we feel it's wrong?, or does the term "unbiblical" have to mean that something goes against what the bible clearly states. The fact that we can "derive" from the bible that A, B, and C are wrong can be seen as mere personal interpretation rather than universal truth. So where does one draw the line? What can be agreed on? Should there be a standard? Hopefully there isn't one apart from the word itself. This thought came to me in church on sunday.

2008 BEST OF LIST (music edition)

Keeping in mind that I have not yet heard all that was dropped in 2008. Here however are my top 5 albums of the year.

1. In Rainbows- by: Radiohead

2. Viva La Vida-by: Coldplay

3. Volume one-by: She & Him

4. Fleet Foxes-by: Fleet Foxes (2008 full length release, Sun Giant was good too)

5. Sleep Through The Static- by: Jack Johnson 

Here are some of my favorite songs from 2008 in random order;

Young Folks--Peter, Bjorn, & John

Family Tree--TV On The Radio

Love Lockdown--Kanye West

Warwick Avenue--Duffy

Tiger Mountain Peasant Song--Fleet Foxes

Wit Light--Marco Borsato

Dignity--Bob Dylan (the Bootleg Series Vol.8)

Your the best thing/Meg White--Ray Lamontagne

Les Feulles Mortes/Because we Believe--Andrea Bocelli

Lay your head down--Karen Ann

Littlest Things/Smile--Lilly Allen

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa/ A-Punk--Vampire Weekend

You appearing/Too Late--M83

Free Fallin'/The Heart of Life--John Mayer (from: Where the Light is, Live in L.A.)

Paper Planes--M.I.A.

Comfy in Nautica/Ponytail--Panda Bear

New Soul--Yael Naim

Fast Car--Wycleff Jean

A new Hallelujah--Michael W. Smith

House of Cards/Weird Fishes--Radiohead

Be ok--Ingrid Michaelson

Appologize--One Republic feat. Timbaland

Same Girl--Jack Johnson

Regalame Esta Noche--The Breeders

You don't know me--Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor

In Step--Girl Talk

No ones gonna love you/Is there a ghost--Band of Horses

There were more but they elude me at the moment.

A Grief Observed

Life keeps moving along as it always has and then one faithful afternoon in December it stopped with the news that my youngest brothers' wife suddenly died of carbon-monoxide poisoning. What followed was a whirlwind of intense sorrow, grief and emotion. 

I feel like writing all about it and then at the same time I don't. 

Helping a sibling grieve the death of their spouse is an experience that quickly gets to the core of who you are. I always felt that it was so cliche' to say that life is fragile and that we should thank God for everyday we have, and I think that when we lose a 22 year old mother and wife it's easy to say those things. But what do you actually do with that information? Does it impact us from day to day? Who has the time to live each day as if it is our last? We continue with our plans and schedules as we always do, and why not right? But this experience makes one question weather more thought should be given to how short we have here and then think about how it affects ones actions.

I want to write about the whole experience, all the characters involved and their perspectives, but that requires more from me than I'm willing to exert at this moment.

We miss you Kelly 

It's been a rough Christmas.

Softly As I Leave You

It's been and incredible ride, it has been educational and at times stressful, but what matters in the end is what I want to remember... the people.

In a sinacle world relationships matter. I tutored kids, helped needy families, single parents, and homeless veterans for 6 years with this organization. I'd like to think that they'll remember me for more than just another agency employee that helped along the way for the time needed, that's why I'll remember the "thank you's" the occasional card, the rare times someone came back not to ask for something, but to give something back in the form of a kind word or an offer to volunteer as repayment.

I leave here with no regrets, and with the feeling that I did make a difference despite the fact that from day-to-day I may not have felt that way, the routine sometimes blends together. And what made this journey better and bearable?...more people, my co-workers. I'll never forget the inside jokes, the bailing each other out with difficult clients, or the times we spent venting to each other about our work and the bureaucracies.

A big part of who I am I leave behind, but look forward to new... people.