First and foremost, Leeanne had a special birthday! She turned __ years old, and for a gal who's __ years old and pregnant, if I met her for the first time tomorrow I'd still fall in love with her.
Also last week, my buddy Brad called with an extra ticket to see the OU/TX game. Huge thanks go out to him for that. We rode the DART down to Fair Park and hit the State Fair a little early before the game. I made the delicious mistake of trying chicken-fried bacon. I gotta say it tasted pretty good, but a little definitely goes a long way.
As for the game itself, it was ugly football. Don't kid yourselves Longhorns, y'all played ugly, too. But like good sports we managed to keep the peace in the spirit of a bipartisan nation when we ran into Drew after the game.
Then, Sunday we went up to Norman to see U2 in concert. Neither of us had ever seen them before - they've been on my list of must-see concerts for a while - and it meant getting back home to Dallas at almost three in the morning, but even Leeanne will tell you it was worth it. It's hard to explain but you can't watch them perform live and not think that you are watching the best band in the world. Bono is an iconic rock star, and they are an iconic band. It's truly an uplifting experience and I would love to see them again.
So truly a great weekend, on many levels, more of which we'll share soon. As everyone keeps telling us, the best is yet to come. So get on your boots!
An Oscar-nominated Hollywood heartthrob and his best friend round up a bunch of instruments-- some of which they don't know how to play-- and a massive children's choir and make a concept album about the supernatural. Seems like a recipe for disaster, right? Guess again. - Pitchfork.com
It occurred to me that I haven't written about any albums in a while. It also occurs to me that if you had said that the next album I wrote about would be by an actor, I would have laughed. Like most people, whenever I hear that an actor has decided to put out an album, my natural reaction is to roll my eyes. The last thing the word needs is another vanity project from the current Tiger Beat cover boy or Hanna Montana of the week. Past attempts have resulted in such bargain bin albums as Bruce Willis' Return of Bruno, Don Johnson's Heartbeat or opening acts like Keanu Reeves' Dogstar and Jared Leto's 30 Seconds to Mars. If you haven't heard of these, not to worry, it's likely best that way.
But sometimes...sometimes you get something really worth listening to. Past examples are She & Him, a collaboration of M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel and the recently released Breakup by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson. But now, Ryan Gosling has quietly and with little fanfare put out an album that is all concept and no conceit, experimental not overexposure, and pretty dang good. That would be Dead Man's Bones.
First as an actor; every woman in America knows Ryan Gosling from The Notebook, but if you've never seen Half Nelson I recommend you do. It's a powerful performance. Secondly, he's got some legitimate music chops. Like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, Baby Goose (as I like to call him) was a member of the Mickey Mouse Club, and like those two (the exclusion of Britney Spears is intentional, y'all), this kid can actually sing.
He's put together a little band that consists of him and his best friend, and combined their mutual fascination with ghosts, monsters, graveyards, zombies or anything deathly to create a spooky little indie record.
They've enlisted a choir from the Silverlake Convervatory of Music, the Los Angeles music education facility co-founded by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The choir members' ages ranged from five to 17. Every Sunday afternoon for several months, Gosling and his buddy Zach Shields would rehearse and record with the kids. What's really surprising is the results. The sounds reflect a wide range of influences - a little bit of doo-wop and artists such as The Shangri-Las, The Cure, Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens. And the choir is reminiscent at times of A Charlie Brown Christmas, although this one would be more fitting for The Great Pumpkin.
This is the video for their song "In the Room Where You Sleep." In the clip, Gosling and Shields lead a bunch of kids, all dressed in Halloween costumes, through a spare acoustic lament.
It's creepy and catchy. It sounds like a middle school assembly gone goth. - Pitchfork.com All of this gives Dead Man's Bones the feeling -- in the best possible way -- of a bootleg recording of an elaborate grade-school Halloween pageant. - AMG
My pops got this for our future Manchild Warrior (name still pending, although based on information currently available, our little one is a boy - Leeanne is still a little shell-shocked, her initial reaction, "I don't know what to do with a little boy" met with my knee-jerk response, "Same thing you do with me" which made me realize how outnumbered she truly is).
Will Tiger Woods still be playing competitive golf in 20 years? I don't know but if we start this little guy early El Tigre may finally have some stiff competition come 2030.
The OU hat placed for size comparison, not pride in our unfortunate performance last Saturday (quiet weeping). I had an interesting discussion with Leeanne about whether losing the game and losing Sam Bradford to a sprained shoulder was adding "insult to injury" or "injury to insult" - I contend it's the latter. Sigh.
...and as of March 2010, we will be in need of a baby carriage!
It is official, we are having a baby! Our plan had been to wait until I turned thirty but God had other plans and we are thrilled. It is such an odd thing that most of our friends can probably relate to. Jason and I knew pretty early on but wanted to wait to until we had seen/heard the heartbeat, had all the tests and felt like we were in a good place to tell others. In the meantime, we just got so used to the idea and used to not telling people that now that we finally are, it seems so new again! I don't know if that makes any sense, not much I do or think these days does.
I am just overwhelmed at the love and excitement our sweet friends have given us. Everyone has a great story or experience to tell and I am so grateful for all the advice and encouragement I am getting from all you girls who have done this before.
So, like it or not, I am sure this blog will have a more "child-friendly" theme from now on.
Here is a picture of our little nugget a little over a week ago. It was really cool because he/she was wiggling like crazy and kept putting his/her hand up to it's face. You can kind of see a profile with it's little nose, mouth and huge forehead.
This is what my super creative husband sent to his friends to tell them the big news.
And this is an example of the type of picture I promise NEVER to post of us.
And a big congrats to our dear friends Craig and Sarah on the birth of their baby girl, Elizabeth, yesterday!
A week ago I lost my wedding ring. I haven't the slightest idea where it might be or how I lost it.
Like most things you misplace, I have a strong recollection of having it on the day it went missing, but only a vague impression of the points leading up to when I discovered it was lost. So basically, it could be in the yard, in a crack behind the dresser, or in the bottom of a box of Froot Loops for all I know. Maybe a hobbit found it and is taking it to Mordor as we speak (nerd alert).
I have to admit, I was pretty upset. Leeanne had the inside engraved and though it was a little bit large - my fingers are what you might call "dainty" - I wore it every single day since we've been married with few exceptions. For the few days after I lost it and had to go without it, I was really bothered not having it on my finger.
It made me think about what a wedding ring actually is and more importantly, what it stands for. Humans as a species tend to put so much emphasis on a symbol, be it an object, tradition, or act, that we completely lose sight of what that thing is symbolic of. The wedding ring is a symbol of my marriage to Leeanne. Even without that outward symbol on my dainty digit, I'm still married to my wife. Heart and soul, I am hers and she is mine. Just as our rings are a symbol for our love and devotion to one another, our marriage is a symbol of our relationship with Christ. Heart and soul.
A ring, a marriage, a saving relationship with Jesus. Out of those three, I'd much rather be without the one that has a tendency to slip off my finger when my hands are wet. I lost an object, a token, a reminder of more important things. Things that are so special, amazing, undeserved, and, thankfully, can never be lost.
On August 6, 2005 Leeanne and I got married in Brentwood, Tennessee. Today marks our four year anniversary. I love you, sweetheart, heart and soul.
I just finished working on a baby shower invitation with a Dr. Seuss them for one of my sister's friends. And while doing so, I took the time to read Oh, The Places You'll Go! I probably had not even looked at it since receiving it from my folks over 13 years (yikes!) ago. What I found was not the simple book of rhyming platitudes I had come to think of it as, but a poignant and encouraging look at life. At success and opportunity, yes. But also at failure, loneliness, and waiting for change. As one of the many who are waiting on a change in the economy, looking for employment, or any change in there circumstances right now, I found some encouragement there.
Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.
NO! That's not for you!
Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying. You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.
Anyway, I just thought I would share that. And I would encourage you, if you have a copy somewhere (I would bet that you do), to dust it off and give it a quick read. Also, I'd like to share the invitation I did. The nice girl I did it for had seen one done like this and wanted me to try and recreate it. It's actually based on the cover for another Seuss book, The Lorax. It was a lot of fun to work on, and I even found a fun Dr. Seuss-themed font in the process. Here it is, and I should say, all credit to the original designer and of course to Dr. Seuss for his incredible body of work and who continues to inspire.
So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So... be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!
I really want to be a good blogger. I read other people's blog like its my job but have been lazy about updating my blog that my husband is so much better at. I too have stories and experiences to tell but find myself becoming self conscious when I sit down to write. I am determined to get better even though there may be only 3 people ever reading this.
Tonight brought back a lot of fond memories. Jason and I went to Magianno's for the first time since we had our first date there over 8 years ago. We were living in Los Angeles and went to Magianno's then saw Black Hawk Down (not the best date movie, but with the best date). As we enjoyed our dining experience there I got to thinking about how different things are 8 years later.
1. While waiting for our table, Jason decided to pull out his iPhone and take a "cleavage shot" of me because my tank top was unusually low cut (it's 100 degrees people). 1st date Jason was sweet enough to open doors and maybe (?) held my hand in the movie theater. I guess I am flattered.
2. Also while waiting for our table, we got bored, made up a word game, then went on to play it through our salad course. I remember our conversation being a little more formal and nervous all those years ago....I think there may have been a few awkward silences as well.
3. Jason and I split an entree! We laugh that pre-me, "Jason doesn't share food". He has always eaten a lot and a little territorial about his food. I didn't even have to ask tonight, I knew what I wanted before we got there and he gladly shared and even had leftovers for tomorrow.
4. We realized we were out of milk on the way home and had to stop by Target...very romantic.
5. And the best difference between now and then....we ended the night under the same roof in the same bed all this by 10:30 on a Saturday night.
Last weekend was a big weekend.
OU/TX game. Huge thanks go out to him for that. We rode the DART down to Fair Park and hit the State Fair a little early before the game. I made the delicious mistake of trying chicken-fried bacon. I gotta say it tasted pretty good, but a little definitely goes a long way.
