Making the many pay for the mistakes, malice, or muttonheadedness of the few.
That is a ubiquitious part of current America which loads our everyday lives with inconvenience, impersonality, uncommonsense, and an insipid, barely-tangible hostility.
A few children get hurt on metal-bar playground equipment. Some in the normal line of playing, some because they were being idiots. So now we have bulbous plastic playgrounds with staticy slides and toned-down apparati. Every kid in America pays for the injury of a few. Every kid's playground is made a little tamer and blander to guard against the possibility of a few getting hurt.
A few callous fools deface the beautiful hot water pools in a national park. Now every one of the millions of visitors who see that pool each year are kept back 20 feet from its edge. Gone is the simplicity and direct experience of staring into the pool from right next to it. All are held back because of the crimes of a very few.
Email accounts are now a battle against spam, balancing the convenience of keeping a certain account with the ever-increasing amount of junk mail that arrives as time goes by. The spammers (who even ARE theses people????) deleteriously affect the email experience of every user, every day.
A final example is one I am very aware of: On a chair in my boss's office at the chemical plant sits a 8-inch tall stack of printed-out federal regulations. These are merely the applicable selections from the full pool of regs that is available online. Every chemical plant in the nation must follow these myriad rules, and failure to do so is unflinchingly treated as an intended crime, because of abuses of materials handled by plants in the past. Because of the inconsiderate and illadvised actions of plant personnel long in the past, the production of any chemical is saddled by a money-sucking, resource-leeching barrage of stringent regulations. Common sense can not be relied on, because the few people who decided not to use it have brought great penalties to the entire plant for which they worked. Tasks are dumbed-down to an infantile level and insultingly-basic checklists and procedures must be mutely followed, because one mistake has the chance of wreaking devastating havoc on the entire workforce. The chance may literally be a million to one (a sufficiently-large crystal of benzoyl peroxide somehow surviving in a drum of liquid, which could ignite, given the perfect combination of placement and a spark, creating a state-reportable process fire), but the weight of bureaucratic legal penalties that would fall from that eventuality make the "risk" not worth taking.
Our nation has reached a level of prosperity that allows us the luxury of preventing these small-percentage injuries, dangers and problems. But our trump-all concern for the mere possibility that someone could get hurt, or an accident happen again, robs our citizens of the responsibility of exercising their minds to protect themselves and consider their neighbors. We are raising a nation of blame-shifting, irresponsible, victimized, hyper-cautions dumb people, not forced to think for themselves, lest perhaps, oh dear god, they mess up!!
Not all these precautions are bad. Airbags are a very sensible way to cushion the unavoidable forward motion of humans in suddenly-stopped cars. It is indeed very bad when someone dies of asphyxiation from standing next to a nitogen-inerted tank. But what I think our nation is missing is the fact that you cannot prevent all eventualities, and the more you try to shut out, and the more improbable they are, the more freedom and responsibility you must necessarily strip from all people. There is risk to trusting people to take care of themselves, because not everyone will do it right, and sometimes they can hurt others too. But somehow there's a difference between loving our neighbors like the good Samaritan and trying to keep everybody from traveling that road to Jerusalem because there might be robbers there and they could get hurt. The philosophy of law and government seems to be legislating broad, over-compensating edicts to address and prevent specific issues and possibilities. This is not the personal care Christ commanded us to exercise. This is letting the laws do the work for us so we don't have to think or love or look at who's around us and get out of our comfort zone. Find out who's needy in your area and give from your paycheck to help them? Heck of a lot easier to just let the government take a percentage of your paycheck and dole it out nation-wide through welfare and healthcare. Trust parents to teach and care for their kids, and trust kids to learn from the knocks of life? Easier to just make plastic playgrounds so nobody can possibly get hurt.
Ultimately, life is not fair, life is not nice, and life gets people hurt, disadvantaged, and sometimes even killed. We're trying to stop that in America these days, but it can never work, and we're putting greater and greater burdens on everyone, and dumbing down our lives more and more. I fear for the future of this "soft" people, and in some ways I long for the closeness of reality that existed in older days and older cultures. Even if it means I break a leg, or am poor, or die at 30. That's life.
But I like my soft bed and salted roads and protective laws too. This is a hypothetical post, and it touches on something that I, at times, deeply long for, and get very frustrated with. I have to admit--it's easy to say all this from the comfort and safety of my middle-class suburban life. I can't say I'd think the same way if life started really knocking me, or the people I loved, around. Who knows.
This life, this country, this class, and this prosperity, is where God has placed me in His sovereign wisdom at this time. I don't want to disparrage these things and beat myself up, or others. I just want to think, and express what tugs at my heart sometimes.
--Clear Ambassador
Monday, February 27, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Pure Boss Concerts
Friends, family, and fans:
Aight, here's the big news: Pure Boss, after months of productive reticence, is hitting March with a bang: three concerts in a row! If you've wanted to see us play, now is the time, and you've got 3 weekends to choose from :-) And by the way, we've got several new songs, and almost all our old ones have been vastly improved and arranged and rocked-out. Should be kickin' :-)
The gigs are as follows:
Saturday, March 11th at a YMCA in Akron (Cuyahoga Falls), evening.
We're playing a full show kicking off a newly renovated gym. The biggest show we'll be doing. The address is 544 Broad Blvd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221.
Friday, March 17th at an Assembly of God activity center in Akron, at 7pm.
The school at CoG is putting on a benefit concert for a Ukranian orphanage. We're the fourth band playing, and we'll be doing a 50-minute set. The address is:
859 Mull Ave.
Akron, OH 44313
(Near the I-77 White Pont/Mull Ave. exit)
Cost is $5 or a brand new article of teen clothing.
Friday March 24th at The Orange Street, a concert club in Akron.
It's an all-age venue, we're one of six bands playing, and we'll be doing a 30-minute set (rock face baby!!).
The cost is $6 at the door, doors open at 6:30, and we play around 7pm. The address is:
951 N. Main St.
Akron, OH 44310
I'd recommend the CoG benefit concert show 'cause we'll be playing a good-sized set, we'll be experienced from the previous show, and the cost will directly benefit a good cause. But any show you could make it to would be sweet :-) And by the way, Akron is 2 - 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh--a nice drive down I-76 West.
If you've got any more questions, drop an email or give me a call (412-736-1524).
Hope to see you at a show!
--John Behrens
and
PURE BOSS
http://www.myspace.com/pureboss
http://www.artistcollaboration.com/~pureboss
Yahoo! Mail
Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.
Aight, here's the big news: Pure Boss, after months of productive reticence, is hitting March with a bang: three concerts in a row! If you've wanted to see us play, now is the time, and you've got 3 weekends to choose from :-) And by the way, we've got several new songs, and almost all our old ones have been vastly improved and arranged and rocked-out. Should be kickin' :-)
The gigs are as follows:
Saturday, March 11th at a YMCA in Akron (Cuyahoga Falls), evening.
We're playing a full show kicking off a newly renovated gym. The biggest show we'll be doing. The address is 544 Broad Blvd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221.
Friday, March 17th at an Assembly of God activity center in Akron, at 7pm.
The school at CoG is putting on a benefit concert for a Ukranian orphanage. We're the fourth band playing, and we'll be doing a 50-minute set. The address is:
859 Mull Ave.
Akron, OH 44313
(Near the I-77 White Pont/Mull Ave. exit)
Cost is $5 or a brand new article of teen clothing.
Friday March 24th at The Orange Street, a concert club in Akron.
It's an all-age venue, we're one of six bands playing, and we'll be doing a 30-minute set (rock face baby!!).
The cost is $6 at the door, doors open at 6:30, and we play around 7pm. The address is:
951 N. Main St.
Akron, OH 44310
I'd recommend the CoG benefit concert show 'cause we'll be playing a good-sized set, we'll be experienced from the previous show, and the cost will directly benefit a good cause. But any show you could make it to would be sweet :-) And by the way, Akron is 2 - 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh--a nice drive down I-76 West.
If you've got any more questions, drop an email or give me a call (412-736-1524).
Hope to see you at a show!
--John Behrens
and
PURE BOSS
http://www.myspace.com/pureboss
http://www.artistcollaboration.com/~pureboss
Yahoo! Mail
Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.
aNOther practice? Sheesh!
Yep. Basically, I realized that we're headlining a full show in two weeks, and next weekend is Daniel's birthday, so it's now or never. We have a totally new setlist with three new songs, and we've gotta be tight, confident, comfortable and competent. So, the plans were laid and on Friday, with a deep breath, I passed the turn for 60 south, pulled into the right lane, and hit the highway for home #2, hoping I wasn't heading for a weekend of burned-out practice and overstretched relationships.
Short story: we didn't.
Slightly longer story: We practiced Friday, everybody else was gone at a dance show, we had mad crazy times with Nick, Josie and his friend Nate at the Chimas that night, slept long, ate Taco Bell, practiced more, practiced more, got food, hung out more at the Chimas, and I drove home.
Mentally protruding points of interest and memory:
Walking in to a house full of girls when I was expecting everybody but Steve to be gone. Then walking up the stairs and in the hall seeing Stephen, with his long mane of shoulder-length wavy hair cut down to a childish-looking mop on top. Crazy thing is...I'd gotten a haircut that week too! Poor Steve--he looks 12 now, and we pounded him endlessly on that! At least I was honest. Everybody else said it looked fine. Pfft :-P
Nick, Josie and Brian seriously acting like we were going to stop practicing at 7:30 on Friday and go hang out. I'm pretty used to dealing with vagrants and those not wishing to buckle down and work, but when Brian started taking off his guitar, I laid down the line. I hate to crack the whip, but there are times when we've gotta work to honor a comittment (playing a gig), and all joking aside, we've gotta practice. And they were cool with that, once it was made clear. Brian especially has given up a ton these last weekends to practice, and that means a lot to me and the band.
The change in Phillip from a 10-year-old little brother to the man chillin' with his man John Behrens after everybody else left. I volunteered to stay home till Scott got back from the show, and let Brian and Steve go hang out. It was just funny to see how Phillip's demeanor changed into something subtly and laughably, yet innocently, pretentious. And I was happy to hang out, play some PS1 and get some Taco Bell with him. Until we got home and for some reason he turned bratty. Then I was happy to leave the house. Ah well; he's still 10 years old :-)
It wasn't a highlight for me or Nick, but for the other guys going to the ghetto McDonalds and meeting a carful of 16-year-old girls who'd tossed them their number at Donato's was the highlight of the weekend. To my dry reasoning eyes it was ridiculously pointless, but they all spazzed out about it, and after they stood in the cold outside my car talking to them (as they sat in their car with the windows open), they spent the rest of the evening talking about it, trying to find them on myspace, talking about it more, texting their cell, and talking about it more. Pfft. I'm so disconnected from that whole scene and concept, it's kinda funny.
Watching Zoolander was sweet, especially 'cause it was Steve's first time. Such a funny movie! So many great quotes! Ahhh :-)
It wasn't so much a highlight, but it was notable: I flopped on the couch midway through Zoolander and ended up not rising from there until noon the next day. Jake (one of the Chima's dogs) was at the head of the couch, and he became my pillow for the entire night. It wasn't too comfortable, and I kept partially awaking, and my back got fairly sore, but sleep was sweet. Ooh, and I didn't brush my teeth, or take off my shoes, or even unclip my cell phone! It felt weird, but I never wanted to stir myself enough to do any of those. And so I slept on, on my breathing pillow.
The SECOND time we ran through the set on Saturday. That was the highlight for me. Steve was rested, he could breathe again (getting over a cold), we were all warmed up and practiced up, and we tore through the songs like it was summer '05 again. I just can hardly think how to describe how sweet it was. Let's look at the drum fills, since they're a good indication of how I'm playing. I toned them down so there were very few "adventurous" ones that mess up, but what I did play flowed out and pounded power into the songs. Steve even noticed them on "Straight from the Nails," which we played fantastically. My limbs were limbered up, my mind was focused, the songs were all fresh in my memory, my foot was rested, Steve's sub was pounding the air in the whole room every time I tapped the kick drum, and I sat upon my throne and commanded the drums with the swinging tips of my sticks--hickory extensions of my musical mind. Our sound was one. The bass amp throbbed, Steve lightened and loosened up once he switched back to his old bass, and Brian worked the guitar tones from my two pedals deftly. We brought the house down with "You Were Everything," hopped and danced to "Summer Song," pounded out "Northeast Tragedy," and when Steve called out "Break it down!" on "Ohio," aahhhh, it just brought a smile to my face. Sweet. Sweet like good scotch and fresh Braeburns. Sweet like deep conversation. Sweet like driving fast on an empty winding road. Sweet like putting something together and watching it actually work. Sweet like I hope and pray and cry that we can play for the actual concert. Oh please, let it go well! Please!
The other high point was probalby me and Steve and Brian hanging around the Chima's barn after dinner at Chipotle tonight and talking. We'd had a great dinner with Nick, good talking and joking, and now we were sitting around heedless of time, freezing in the night air, and sharing stories and asking questions and laughing. I really wanted to stay and watch Zoolander again with them all, but I knew I had to get home, and it was 10:30 already, so off I went. Brian and Nick are great guys, and Steve, of course, is like one of my best friends. In fact, he's probably 3rd on the list, after Daniel and Dad. Funny how that happens.
Anyway, this weekend, like the VSOP I just got, has left a deliciously sweet taste in my mouth. It was just great that Brian was a part of it all--the music, the hanging out, the talking--and that that last run-through was so good. If the sound and technical side is good at the concert, and we can somehow get well warmed-up, we are gonna rock the place and have a blast. Lord, may it be so, and Thy will be done, and thank You for this weekend! Bless church tomorrow please, and help me look to You, Jesus. Amen.
And rock on!
-0-Clear Ambassador-0-
Short story: we didn't.
Slightly longer story: We practiced Friday, everybody else was gone at a dance show, we had mad crazy times with Nick, Josie and his friend Nate at the Chimas that night, slept long, ate Taco Bell, practiced more, practiced more, got food, hung out more at the Chimas, and I drove home.
Mentally protruding points of interest and memory:
Walking in to a house full of girls when I was expecting everybody but Steve to be gone. Then walking up the stairs and in the hall seeing Stephen, with his long mane of shoulder-length wavy hair cut down to a childish-looking mop on top. Crazy thing is...I'd gotten a haircut that week too! Poor Steve--he looks 12 now, and we pounded him endlessly on that! At least I was honest. Everybody else said it looked fine. Pfft :-P
Nick, Josie and Brian seriously acting like we were going to stop practicing at 7:30 on Friday and go hang out. I'm pretty used to dealing with vagrants and those not wishing to buckle down and work, but when Brian started taking off his guitar, I laid down the line. I hate to crack the whip, but there are times when we've gotta work to honor a comittment (playing a gig), and all joking aside, we've gotta practice. And they were cool with that, once it was made clear. Brian especially has given up a ton these last weekends to practice, and that means a lot to me and the band.
The change in Phillip from a 10-year-old little brother to the man chillin' with his man John Behrens after everybody else left. I volunteered to stay home till Scott got back from the show, and let Brian and Steve go hang out. It was just funny to see how Phillip's demeanor changed into something subtly and laughably, yet innocently, pretentious. And I was happy to hang out, play some PS1 and get some Taco Bell with him. Until we got home and for some reason he turned bratty. Then I was happy to leave the house. Ah well; he's still 10 years old :-)
It wasn't a highlight for me or Nick, but for the other guys going to the ghetto McDonalds and meeting a carful of 16-year-old girls who'd tossed them their number at Donato's was the highlight of the weekend. To my dry reasoning eyes it was ridiculously pointless, but they all spazzed out about it, and after they stood in the cold outside my car talking to them (as they sat in their car with the windows open), they spent the rest of the evening talking about it, trying to find them on myspace, talking about it more, texting their cell, and talking about it more. Pfft. I'm so disconnected from that whole scene and concept, it's kinda funny.
Watching Zoolander was sweet, especially 'cause it was Steve's first time. Such a funny movie! So many great quotes! Ahhh :-)
It wasn't so much a highlight, but it was notable: I flopped on the couch midway through Zoolander and ended up not rising from there until noon the next day. Jake (one of the Chima's dogs) was at the head of the couch, and he became my pillow for the entire night. It wasn't too comfortable, and I kept partially awaking, and my back got fairly sore, but sleep was sweet. Ooh, and I didn't brush my teeth, or take off my shoes, or even unclip my cell phone! It felt weird, but I never wanted to stir myself enough to do any of those. And so I slept on, on my breathing pillow.
The SECOND time we ran through the set on Saturday. That was the highlight for me. Steve was rested, he could breathe again (getting over a cold), we were all warmed up and practiced up, and we tore through the songs like it was summer '05 again. I just can hardly think how to describe how sweet it was. Let's look at the drum fills, since they're a good indication of how I'm playing. I toned them down so there were very few "adventurous" ones that mess up, but what I did play flowed out and pounded power into the songs. Steve even noticed them on "Straight from the Nails," which we played fantastically. My limbs were limbered up, my mind was focused, the songs were all fresh in my memory, my foot was rested, Steve's sub was pounding the air in the whole room every time I tapped the kick drum, and I sat upon my throne and commanded the drums with the swinging tips of my sticks--hickory extensions of my musical mind. Our sound was one. The bass amp throbbed, Steve lightened and loosened up once he switched back to his old bass, and Brian worked the guitar tones from my two pedals deftly. We brought the house down with "You Were Everything," hopped and danced to "Summer Song," pounded out "Northeast Tragedy," and when Steve called out "Break it down!" on "Ohio," aahhhh, it just brought a smile to my face. Sweet. Sweet like good scotch and fresh Braeburns. Sweet like deep conversation. Sweet like driving fast on an empty winding road. Sweet like putting something together and watching it actually work. Sweet like I hope and pray and cry that we can play for the actual concert. Oh please, let it go well! Please!
The other high point was probalby me and Steve and Brian hanging around the Chima's barn after dinner at Chipotle tonight and talking. We'd had a great dinner with Nick, good talking and joking, and now we were sitting around heedless of time, freezing in the night air, and sharing stories and asking questions and laughing. I really wanted to stay and watch Zoolander again with them all, but I knew I had to get home, and it was 10:30 already, so off I went. Brian and Nick are great guys, and Steve, of course, is like one of my best friends. In fact, he's probably 3rd on the list, after Daniel and Dad. Funny how that happens.
Anyway, this weekend, like the VSOP I just got, has left a deliciously sweet taste in my mouth. It was just great that Brian was a part of it all--the music, the hanging out, the talking--and that that last run-through was so good. If the sound and technical side is good at the concert, and we can somehow get well warmed-up, we are gonna rock the place and have a blast. Lord, may it be so, and Thy will be done, and thank You for this weekend! Bless church tomorrow please, and help me look to You, Jesus. Amen.
And rock on!
-0-Clear Ambassador-0-
Friday, February 24, 2006
Long Weekend
Hm. Friday afternoon 'till Monday morning in
So Friday night was filled with a whole lot of people in the Hoffman's house, and random spats of jamming very loudly, playing spoons, giving Steve his guitar (my doing too, with a lot of monetary help from everybody. Best present I could think of to give him.), eating food, drinking Dr.Pepper, talking, taking lots of pictures, playing acoustic guitar, and that certain special kinda wandering around nosing in on groups of talking friends and fishing for something to do or say that characterizes parties in my mind. We ended up in the den with a pared-down group of people singing songs and doing a sort of impromptu Bible charades. Brian was king of that :-) Eventually everyone was gone but me, Brian, John Lavery, Mike and Steve. We kicked around ideas and movies to rent, and finally the Boss Boys ended up driving hurriedly to Blockbuster and careening through the sign-up procedure so we could rent "Dumb and Dumber" to watch. Funny movie yes, but Jim Carrey just weirds me out. *shudder* Lots of funny stuff, though. I don't remember what it was, but I remember at one point being doubled over on the floor rolling into Brian, gagging with laughter. Cressy, mahn.. cressy.
I fell asleep halfway through "Pirates of the
We played around a few standard songs, but mostly focused on "Hit the Wall," a new song by Stephen (and me). We played through it several times, fiddled with the arrangement, and at one point we crashed the final note of the song, and as it rang out looked around at eachother with wide eyes and wide smiles. This is the kind of song that can make a band famous, and we had a KILLER arrangement. There was power in the music, and meaning in the words. Disregarding its preppily cliched overuse, "stoked" is an accurate term for how we felt about that song. God has given it to us, and I'm interested to see where He takes it.
Time was pretty irrelevant Saturday. It felt like morning when we practiced, 'cause we'd gotten up and eaten breakfast. But when we breaked for Taco Bell it was about
Playing acoustic guitar,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . writing a song,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IN TACO BELL!!!
That's right! I asked sweetly, blinked my big doe eyes pleadingly, and the nice people behind the counter said we could bring our guitar in and play it quietly. I pretty much think that according to the laws of physics, life can't get any better than playing guitar with your band in Taco Bell :-) Good time, even though our lengthy efforts only yielded a shaky idea for verse 1 lyrics. Ugh. The prechorus and chorus have been written since the summer, but the verses are stubbornly mocking our attempts to put them into cold hard words. We've got a good start, though.
We practiced some more when we got back home, but the fire was pretty much gone, and Brian left around
Sunday Steve and I made it to church only 3 minutes after 10, which was pretty good IMO. Worship was pretty good, there was a time of prayer for folks, and then John Joyce preached about evangelism. "Invite and Invest" was the phrase that stuck in my mind, as far as being a good friend to folks in my life (as opposed to being a "Christian secret agent"). Then the walking around and talking to various people I know, catching up with those who talk more seriously, exchanging coolio comments with those who don't, and (yay!) meeting some new people. I was glad to be back for a Sunday again. I like that church :-)
Steve and I wandered around Montrose for a long time trying to find somewhere to eat lunch that didn't have a huge line, and eventually we ended up deciding to go home and eat Mrs. H's chili.
We recorded!
It was a year ago when last I sat behind Steve's mammoth drum set in the Hoffman's sparse living room, with mic cables snaking up the hall to Mike's room and headphones connecting me with Brian and Stephen. A flood of tactile and visual memories came back as I sat on the drum throne, listening to the mic in the basement and hearing the artificially-articulated sounds of my drumset coming through the headphones. I was genuinely excited (pumped)! And the best part? Dude, I give us six clicks, and we come crashing in to the intro of "Hit the Wall," and it just rocks! We all knew it so well that we were able to fine-tune it, record it several times to get out small mistakes, and end up with a drum track that I can be proud of (except that one half-late kick drum in the fill going into the third prechorus...). It was a great feeling to play it that well, and to know that we were getting it on tape with precisely-placed mics and EQ settings landing us a drum sound that socked and rocked, even without compression and additional EQ. SWEET!
So, aye—we recorded Sunday. First drums for two songs, and then we crammed into Mike’s room (the “studio”) and Brian and I worked on recording the guitar for “Summer Song,” the second one we recorded. Pretty sweet, and we’re majorly looking forward to have a finished product.
Then the arduous task of taking down all the sound stuff, and then I packed up, and then the Hoffman and adopted Hoffman guys retired to the den for sleep/watching “The Net.” Turned out to be a cool movie, unfortunately. That’s bad because I means I stayed up and watched it all, and thus got less sleep than I should have. Oh well—story of the weekend. Monday I got up at about
It was a long weekend, we got some great music stuff done, Steve has an acoustic guitar, I didn’t get enough sleep, and life chugs on relentlessly. I’m finishing this up Thursday night (Friday morning, dangit), and tomorrow I go to
Happy Birthday Steve! Happy band! Happy music! Happy God!
--Clear Ambassador
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Akron Photos
Until further notice (A journal post), refer to my photo site for a report from Akron. Actually, I really liked the form of captions for journaling the trip, and if you go through the pictures in order they give a great representation of the visit. I got better ideas doing that than I did sitting down and writing out the journal like normal. In general my writing inspiration is drying up, so I'm looking for time-efficient ways to keep doing at least decently good writing.
I got a pro upgrade on Flickr, too: $25 for basically unlimited photos for a year. Worth it, I think, 'cause I like pictures a lot, and they can be a great way to represent stuff that's going on. Ah, the joy and power of having a camera in your hands :-)
peace
--Clear Ambassador
I got a pro upgrade on Flickr, too: $25 for basically unlimited photos for a year. Worth it, I think, 'cause I like pictures a lot, and they can be a great way to represent stuff that's going on. Ah, the joy and power of having a camera in your hands :-)
peace
--Clear Ambassador
Fwd: this weekend
John Behrens <pittjpb8@yahoo.com> wrote:
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:56:07 -0800 (PST)
From: John Behrens <pittjpb8@yahoo.com>
Subject: this weekend
To: Brian Chima <ilikepureboss@hotmail.com>,
Michael Hoffman <narsil15@yahoo.com>,
Stephen Hoffman <shoffman14@yahoo.com>
Hey guys!Well, back again, eh? :-) I can't believe how fast these concerts are coming up. Mike, I hope you've got good plans for making that sub, 'cause you'll only have 2 weekends to work on it.For this weekend I'm thinking of starting right after dance on Friday (5:30), like normal. We stop all playing of music at 10pm, chill out a bit, and then watch Zoolander (Brian, do you have it at home?). That should get us to sleep right about midnight. Then we get up between 9 and 10 and practice, with a TB break somewhere after noon. I'm planning on heading back home Saturday night, hopefully around 7 or 8, so we'll probably stop practice at about 6. If we're going really strong and there's tons more we need to work on, I can stay through Sunday. We'll build that hot-air balloon and float over the river when we get to it (bridges--who needs 'em?).I'm thinking about the setlist a bit, and hopefully I'll have something we can work with by Friday. Think about it yourselves, too--what should we start with? What "Hypothesis" songs should we do? What kind of breaks or talking stuff can we do? etc.Steve, you are ordered to heal yourself of your infirmity with all possible rapidity. No excuse will be courted. Obedience is mandatory, and if illness remains, you will be reprimanded and maybe even made fun of a bit. :-) Sleeeeeep......See you guys Friday!!-=-J-=-P-=-B-=-
What are the most popular cars? Find out at Yahoo! Autos
What are the most popular cars? Find out at Yahoo! Autos
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Glory seekers
Where have you been finding glory these last few days? Where, in the existence of God's good world, have you been marveling at and enjoying the shining tastes of His glory that speckle our lives like glitter in the dirt? Are your eyes open to these "glory moments" (to borrow the phrase from a past sermon)?
I tasted glory in the hot sausage chili soup Sunday afternoon.
I felt glory in the air that blew warm on my skin this afternoon and evening.
I sucked down glory in the Cherry Vanilla Dr.Pepper slurpie from Seven Eleven today.
I saw glory on the TV screen as men plummeted down a precipitious icy slope, not scraping down it, clinging to the hill as it fell away beneath them, but pointing their slick skiis down, tucking in, and trying to go as fast as they possibly could! I watched in awe as their whole bodies shuddered and bent under the force of the turns as they skied on the edge of control, a muscle twitch away from a car-less wreck at highway speeds.
I see heart-touching glory in Daisy's face every day. You'd think we'd get used to it, since she's always around, but I truly never cease to be amazed at her ineffable cuteness and to wonder at it. "What a gift from God!" is all I can say.
I live with the glory of my Mom and Dad, two of the most enduringly godly people I've ever known. I marvel at the laying down of their lives that blesses me every day.
I enjoy glory in the music that Brian, Stephen and I make in the basement of the Hoffman's house. I sung and played glory in the delicate song Steve taught me last time I was there. I feel glory as the bass amp fills the room with huge round sound waves.
There's glory everywhere, and the more you think about it and look for it, and the more you turn from it to delight in and thank the God who gives it so graciously, the more you see and the more you savor.
Life is good :-)
--JPB
I tasted glory in the hot sausage chili soup Sunday afternoon.
I felt glory in the air that blew warm on my skin this afternoon and evening.
I sucked down glory in the Cherry Vanilla Dr.Pepper slurpie from Seven Eleven today.
I saw glory on the TV screen as men plummeted down a precipitious icy slope, not scraping down it, clinging to the hill as it fell away beneath them, but pointing their slick skiis down, tucking in, and trying to go as fast as they possibly could! I watched in awe as their whole bodies shuddered and bent under the force of the turns as they skied on the edge of control, a muscle twitch away from a car-less wreck at highway speeds.
I see heart-touching glory in Daisy's face every day. You'd think we'd get used to it, since she's always around, but I truly never cease to be amazed at her ineffable cuteness and to wonder at it. "What a gift from God!" is all I can say.
I live with the glory of my Mom and Dad, two of the most enduringly godly people I've ever known. I marvel at the laying down of their lives that blesses me every day.
I enjoy glory in the music that Brian, Stephen and I make in the basement of the Hoffman's house. I sung and played glory in the delicate song Steve taught me last time I was there. I feel glory as the bass amp fills the room with huge round sound waves.
There's glory everywhere, and the more you think about it and look for it, and the more you turn from it to delight in and thank the God who gives it so graciously, the more you see and the more you savor.
Life is good :-)
--JPB
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
A weekend unlike any other...
Leading Sunday morning worship for the first time ever.
Watching Zoolander for the first time ever.
Jamming with Jonathan BEFORE noon on Saturday. (yes, that does indeed entail being up prior to 12pm on a Saturday!)
Long practice/jam with Daniel and Justin Saturday night.
Soup and sandwich lunch buffet Sunday. Beats a potluck, dude! Plus, they chilled their 2-liter bottles of pop!! Quality people, I tell you what :-)
Taco Bell with Daniel and Justin . . . and KEN! on Saturday afternoon.
Waking up at 7 on Sunday morning and riding in the minivan one and a half hours wedged in the back seat with Daniel and Justin, while Joel and Cindy sat in the middle row and Mom and Dad talked from up front.
Sleeping on the floor in the basement as a tribute to Friday Nights of the past (except it was Saturday night, but whatever).
Talking on said basement floor with the Harvster and Ice Man till like 2:40am.
Hot sausage chili soup. Oohhhhh baby :-)
Scraping ice off the Rishel's car as Joel tried to whisk it off with his bare hands: "Joel, the use of tools is what separates us from the animals!"
Entering in to White Stone Christian Fellowship's body of fellow believers for a day. They may be hoping to become a Sovereign Grace Ministries church, but as far as I'm concerned, they already are!
Rice Corn and Cheese Casserole Saturday night. Handmade. By me. Brought back a flood of memories from Friday Nights with Ken and Daniel in the past. Plus it tasted real good :-)
Singing into the microphone Sunday morning and hearing my voice fill the comfortable little sanctuary from the crisp speakers.
Hearing what Jonathan played on electric guitar while we jammed Saturday.
"You can read minds???!"
Spicy chicken for the price of beef, baby! All ya gotta do is ask!
Watchin' sports with Ken Friday night. (Although I've been sorely realizing my distance from the youth group, where Mom Dad and Ice were that night, and wishing I could be a part of it again.)
Pretty much the taste of the weekend that lingers in my mind's mouth after time has drained the fleeting sip of the present is spending all day Saturday and most of the day Sunday with either Jonathan or Justin. They are two of the best guys I've ever known, and it was sweet to have plentiful time to talk, chill and jam. And Ice Man, too. He's pretty much the coolest guy ever. Pun unintentionally intended. And Ken even got in on some of the action! A weekend to look back on and remember for a nice long time.
--Clear Ambassador
Watching Zoolander for the first time ever.
Jamming with Jonathan BEFORE noon on Saturday. (yes, that does indeed entail being up prior to 12pm on a Saturday!)
Long practice/jam with Daniel and Justin Saturday night.
Soup and sandwich lunch buffet Sunday. Beats a potluck, dude! Plus, they chilled their 2-liter bottles of pop!! Quality people, I tell you what :-)
Taco Bell with Daniel and Justin . . . and KEN! on Saturday afternoon.
Waking up at 7 on Sunday morning and riding in the minivan one and a half hours wedged in the back seat with Daniel and Justin, while Joel and Cindy sat in the middle row and Mom and Dad talked from up front.
Sleeping on the floor in the basement as a tribute to Friday Nights of the past (except it was Saturday night, but whatever).
Talking on said basement floor with the Harvster and Ice Man till like 2:40am.
Hot sausage chili soup. Oohhhhh baby :-)
Scraping ice off the Rishel's car as Joel tried to whisk it off with his bare hands: "Joel, the use of tools is what separates us from the animals!"
Entering in to White Stone Christian Fellowship's body of fellow believers for a day. They may be hoping to become a Sovereign Grace Ministries church, but as far as I'm concerned, they already are!
Rice Corn and Cheese Casserole Saturday night. Handmade. By me. Brought back a flood of memories from Friday Nights with Ken and Daniel in the past. Plus it tasted real good :-)
Singing into the microphone Sunday morning and hearing my voice fill the comfortable little sanctuary from the crisp speakers.
Hearing what Jonathan played on electric guitar while we jammed Saturday.
"You can read minds???!"
Spicy chicken for the price of beef, baby! All ya gotta do is ask!
Watchin' sports with Ken Friday night. (Although I've been sorely realizing my distance from the youth group, where Mom Dad and Ice were that night, and wishing I could be a part of it again.)
Pretty much the taste of the weekend that lingers in my mind's mouth after time has drained the fleeting sip of the present is spending all day Saturday and most of the day Sunday with either Jonathan or Justin. They are two of the best guys I've ever known, and it was sweet to have plentiful time to talk, chill and jam. And Ice Man, too. He's pretty much the coolest guy ever. Pun unintentionally intended. And Ken even got in on some of the action! A weekend to look back on and remember for a nice long time.
--Clear Ambassador
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Sick practice, dude!
Friday-Saturday, February 3rd-4th, 2006
Akron trip #3 for the new year.
I dully pushed myself out of the chair, dragged my feet across the hall, and flopped my shoulder against the frame of Tom’s door, informing him that I felt like septic sludge that morning.
“No, it’s just a normal cold. I dunno, I just have no energy at all...”
“Well, if you feel that bad, why don’t you take off?”
“I was thinking of heading out after lunch. I’ve gotta do the potable report and the turbidity, but once those are finished—they’re the only things that really need to be done today.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. And if you’re feeling too bad, just leave, that’s fine.”
1:30pm that afternoon. I had indeed finished the few requirements of that day, eaten a bowl of soup after everyone else had left for lunch at the Midway, and gotten in the car and headed West, bound for Akron. Now Pepsi Blue sat between yellow stripes outside McDonalds as I returned from my pit stop. I flopped in, leaned the seat back, tried to somehow bend my arm around in a comfortable position that covered my eyes, eventually gave up, laid back, and put myself into pure neutral. Songs and scenarios drifted through my head as I enjoyed letting my eyelids stay shut, and eventually I remember slowly waking up and having no idea where I was, and not caring, and being very still and comfortable, and finally remembering the car, and Akron, and being sick, and the fact that I was halfway there and sitting in my car at a random rest stop. The sleep had been sweet by its mere spontaneity, and by the need for it that had been tugging at my eyelids all morning. Needless to say, the rest of the drive proceeded in a much less risky manner.
“Hey Jahn” said Steve groggily from under the blanket on the den floor.
“Hey Steve!”
So Mrs. H had been right :-) He was supposed to have been helping set things up for the rummage sale since 11 that morning, but when I got there at 2:20 he was nowhere to be found, and she bet I’d find him sleeping at home.
“Recovering from the English paper?”
“Yeah, man…”
Well, I didn’t honestly feel a whole lot better myself. I had been hanging around the building where the dance ministry’s fundraiser was to be held on Saturday, sorta helping carry some stuff in, saying hey to friends, and continuing my copious nose-blowing. I can’t remember any other illness that has made my nose run so much! Eeesh. Eventually I headed back home, promising to probably return around 6 or something.
So, after a brief exchange with the sleepy Stephen and much petting of the excited dogs, I grabbed a blanket and deposited my drooping limbs and pounding head on the Hoffman’s basement couch. Brandy apparently loves that particular blanket, so she jumped up, found a beagle-sized nook, and the Hoffman’s house lapsed into silence. I remember thinking it was odd to drive out to Ohio, to this special city full of special people, and crash with a cold. But oh well. Practice must go on, and I would get what rest I could on Friday, and heck, I’m pretty much a part of the Hoffman family anyway, so whatever. It’s cool to come here so often that I can do this….Sleep took me, and it was sweet, and Brandy was warm, and time ceased to matter.
“Ohh, dude, this is amazing. I’m so dizzy it’s nuts! I don’t even have to turn my head, just move my eyes, and it’s like everything goes crazy.”
Steve and I were walking back from re-setting-up tables and chairs in an auxiliary building where dance lessons had been held during the afternoon. It was about 8:30 at night, but I felt like about 3am. We had woken up around 5, finally kickstarted our engines, and drove over to the rummage sale to bum some dinner off the setup crew who were pricing and sorting like feinds. Such we had done, and then hung around with the Murphys, Tuminos and others who were helping with the setup (“helping” is generous. The work was going pretty scatterdly at that time!). Most of the fun centered around pawing over the tables of clothes brought in by rummage donators. We pretty much got the cream of the crop, and cleaned out the few clothes that were mildly cool or useful. Steve got a sweet suit, I found some sweet shirts (heheheheheh) and stuff, and judging by the periodic bursts of laughs and giggles coming from the girls tables, I think they had fun too. The “I <3 BOYS” shirt was a big hit. But eventually I did take it off. And then me and Steve tore it up so no girl would buy it :-P Good times :-)
“Sorry Jess, we can’t stick around for Starbucks. I’m sick, and it’s later than I wanted to stay, and I’ve gotta rest for practice tomorrow. Ugh, I still can’t imagine you guys getting jacked on caffeine at 10 at night! Don’t hurt yourself, ok? Oy.”
“Duude. The pictures are rattling!”
“Is it too loud?”
“No man, it’s sweet! . . well, we’ll see.”
We didn’t end up turning the sub down as Episode III rocked the Hoffman’s den that night, and it definitely added physical power to the movie, which is already pretty hard core, especially for Star Wars. It was cool to see it again, being only my second time, and cool to chill with Steve-O while everybody else was gone (Philip was with his Grandma for the weekend and Scott and Mom #2 were at the rummage sale till 4 or 5am). I laid back on the couch and let the screen fill my eyes and the sub fill my ears, and I enjoyed once again how the movie got better and better as the galaxy went further and further to pot :-) Hayden does a much better job as a limbless wreck burning in lava then as a wavy-haired hunk making sweet talk to Padme. “This is a happy time now.” Ahhhhh, you’re TERRIBLE man! Heh.
“Dude, come on! It’s eleven-thirty, Brian’s gonna be here in half an hour, and we’ve got the set everything up for practice!”
Ugh, waking Stephen up is not easy. And then when he finally got up, 20 minutes later, he took a shower! Geez dude.
Yes, my alarm did go off at 10, and yes I had wanted to get up in time to go over to the rummage sale before Brian came at noon and practice started... but I just shut it off, laid back in still, rested comfort, and wondered if I’d fall back asleep again. I guess the answer was yes :-)
Brian ended up coming later, and I wasn’t done setting up until after Steve got back with the bass amp from church, so it all worked out.
“That was swEET, guys!”
“Yeah man! We could almost do those four songs just like that for the concert!”
America Blue, Regular Basis, Straight from the Nails, and Walking Dust in quick succession had kicked our practice off to a rockin’ start. This is one of the predominant images or memories in my mind from this trip: the joy and togetherness of playing with Brian and Stephen. Steve really echoed my thoughts (brainwaves, man!) when he was talking about how our lack of practice last semester would either break the band or make it much stronger. When we clicked off the first song on December 30th and blasted right back in after 3 months apart, I knew we were stronger, not weaker, for the absence. Each of our practices this year have been marked by new innovations with old songs, finishing and arranging and modifying new songs, and in general playing very well together, remembering stuff well, and enjoying the sweet tones of Philip’s new bass and the church’s kickin’ bass amp. I really can’t describe how it feels to sit behind the drums and play with two guys who know exactly what to do, what to play, and play it well, and to have the three of us make music—low pounding bass, guitar filling in all the chords and leads, drums and fills and kick beats, vocals and harmonies….. it’s what makes people be in bands! I’m excited for our new songs, and I’ve been thinking perhaps God is leading towards starting work on our second album. We may end up being more of a studio band, since it’s tough to find concert contexts for a band of Christian minors (well, 2 minors anyway). I’m excited for the new songs, and I’m excited that all of us are writing, and getting into the process, and coming up with good stuff, and then getting together and working it out with the band, and working over ideas, and being willing to give up our preferences, and coming out with some sweet music. God, Thy will be done, as I keep praying! Brian and Stephen, I love you guys!
“Oh, of course.”
Such was Brian’s response when I mentioned the “Taco Bell Break” we’d be taking Saturday afternoon. I mean, seriously…how could we not?? Spicy chicken crunchwrap supreme, baby! And with one brief primer question (What’s God been doing in your life lately?) we all jumped in to an hour or so of real conversation and discussion—infinitely more satisfying than an hour of banal blabber :-) Brian’s cell phone / mp3 player is sweet, too. And we rung the bell, and didn’t care if they thought we were lame, ‘cause we’d had a blast, and the food was good, and we love Taco Bell!
“Hey Dad, it’s John! Hi! Well, let’s see…we had a sweet practice, and then Mrs. Hoffman came home around 7 and told us Mr. H was stuck in the mud outside the rummage sale. Heh. So we finished up and went over and got him out. And then we were like, ‘aw, we can’t let this be the end of the day!’ So we stopped at Burger King for Brian, and then just decided to go to the Murphys. So.. we randomly showed up on the Murphy’s porch, and rang the doorbell, and Justin let us in, so we stood inside and talked for like 15 minutes, and finally Mr. Murphy invited us to sit down, and we ended up hanging out for like 2 hours! Heh, it was pretty sweet! We helped him think of a worship song for the morning, and played guitar and stuff…it was a pretty cool Akron thing to do :-) So, I really don’t feel like driving home right now, I just…I dunno, can’t picture driving back now. I’m thinking of staying the night here, and then driving to church in the morning and getting there at the normal time. ‘Cause then I wouldn’t need to leave till 7:30 or so, and I’ve been wanting a week off from the worship team anyway, and this would be more efficient sleep-wise. So, yeah, that’s what I’m thinkin’. Heh. Aight. Well, have a good night! I’ll see you tomorrow!”
"Duuude, I'm so excited! Oh my gash! I've had this in my head for so long, and to hear the guitar and piano together is just amazing!"
Steve had been trying to work his song out for months, playing me bits and pieces of sweet-sounding chords and melodies on guitar and piano, and claiming it was the best song he'd ever written. The time was finally right that night, with practice over, parents asleep upstairs, and a keyboard and an electric guitar plugged into a sweet 15" bass amp in the post-practice dance room, half below ground on a snowy night in Akron. I was in a post-caffeine, post-practice tiredness stupor, flopping in front of the amp, letting every strum of my strat fill me with joy (it sounded SO good through that amp!!), and sinking deeper and deeper into Steve's song. We got the arrangement nailed down, and I learned the guitar parts and got the feel for how it goes. Great great time sharing some deep music. And then we watched "Conspiracy Theory," and talked a bunch, and finally went to bed. And I was more rested than I expected the next morning, and it was cool to wake up in Akron and go to church in Pittsburgh :-)
I love Pure Boss :-) Thank You Lord for every time we've been able to play together, and every song You've given us, and all the enjoyment you pour out through this marvelous thing called music!
--Clear Ambassador
Akron trip #3 for the new year.
I dully pushed myself out of the chair, dragged my feet across the hall, and flopped my shoulder against the frame of Tom’s door, informing him that I felt like septic sludge that morning.
“No, it’s just a normal cold. I dunno, I just have no energy at all...”
“Well, if you feel that bad, why don’t you take off?”
“I was thinking of heading out after lunch. I’ve gotta do the potable report and the turbidity, but once those are finished—they’re the only things that really need to be done today.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. And if you’re feeling too bad, just leave, that’s fine.”
1:30pm that afternoon. I had indeed finished the few requirements of that day, eaten a bowl of soup after everyone else had left for lunch at the Midway, and gotten in the car and headed West, bound for Akron. Now Pepsi Blue sat between yellow stripes outside McDonalds as I returned from my pit stop. I flopped in, leaned the seat back, tried to somehow bend my arm around in a comfortable position that covered my eyes, eventually gave up, laid back, and put myself into pure neutral. Songs and scenarios drifted through my head as I enjoyed letting my eyelids stay shut, and eventually I remember slowly waking up and having no idea where I was, and not caring, and being very still and comfortable, and finally remembering the car, and Akron, and being sick, and the fact that I was halfway there and sitting in my car at a random rest stop. The sleep had been sweet by its mere spontaneity, and by the need for it that had been tugging at my eyelids all morning. Needless to say, the rest of the drive proceeded in a much less risky manner.
“Hey Jahn” said Steve groggily from under the blanket on the den floor.
“Hey Steve!”
So Mrs. H had been right :-) He was supposed to have been helping set things up for the rummage sale since 11 that morning, but when I got there at 2:20 he was nowhere to be found, and she bet I’d find him sleeping at home.
“Recovering from the English paper?”
“Yeah, man…”
Well, I didn’t honestly feel a whole lot better myself. I had been hanging around the building where the dance ministry’s fundraiser was to be held on Saturday, sorta helping carry some stuff in, saying hey to friends, and continuing my copious nose-blowing. I can’t remember any other illness that has made my nose run so much! Eeesh. Eventually I headed back home, promising to probably return around 6 or something.
So, after a brief exchange with the sleepy Stephen and much petting of the excited dogs, I grabbed a blanket and deposited my drooping limbs and pounding head on the Hoffman’s basement couch. Brandy apparently loves that particular blanket, so she jumped up, found a beagle-sized nook, and the Hoffman’s house lapsed into silence. I remember thinking it was odd to drive out to Ohio, to this special city full of special people, and crash with a cold. But oh well. Practice must go on, and I would get what rest I could on Friday, and heck, I’m pretty much a part of the Hoffman family anyway, so whatever. It’s cool to come here so often that I can do this….Sleep took me, and it was sweet, and Brandy was warm, and time ceased to matter.
“Ohh, dude, this is amazing. I’m so dizzy it’s nuts! I don’t even have to turn my head, just move my eyes, and it’s like everything goes crazy.”
Steve and I were walking back from re-setting-up tables and chairs in an auxiliary building where dance lessons had been held during the afternoon. It was about 8:30 at night, but I felt like about 3am. We had woken up around 5, finally kickstarted our engines, and drove over to the rummage sale to bum some dinner off the setup crew who were pricing and sorting like feinds. Such we had done, and then hung around with the Murphys, Tuminos and others who were helping with the setup (“helping” is generous. The work was going pretty scatterdly at that time!). Most of the fun centered around pawing over the tables of clothes brought in by rummage donators. We pretty much got the cream of the crop, and cleaned out the few clothes that were mildly cool or useful. Steve got a sweet suit, I found some sweet shirts (heheheheheh) and stuff, and judging by the periodic bursts of laughs and giggles coming from the girls tables, I think they had fun too. The “I <3 BOYS” shirt was a big hit. But eventually I did take it off. And then me and Steve tore it up so no girl would buy it :-P Good times :-)
“Sorry Jess, we can’t stick around for Starbucks. I’m sick, and it’s later than I wanted to stay, and I’ve gotta rest for practice tomorrow. Ugh, I still can’t imagine you guys getting jacked on caffeine at 10 at night! Don’t hurt yourself, ok? Oy.”
“Duude. The pictures are rattling!”
“Is it too loud?”
“No man, it’s sweet! . . well, we’ll see.”
We didn’t end up turning the sub down as Episode III rocked the Hoffman’s den that night, and it definitely added physical power to the movie, which is already pretty hard core, especially for Star Wars. It was cool to see it again, being only my second time, and cool to chill with Steve-O while everybody else was gone (Philip was with his Grandma for the weekend and Scott and Mom #2 were at the rummage sale till 4 or 5am). I laid back on the couch and let the screen fill my eyes and the sub fill my ears, and I enjoyed once again how the movie got better and better as the galaxy went further and further to pot :-) Hayden does a much better job as a limbless wreck burning in lava then as a wavy-haired hunk making sweet talk to Padme. “This is a happy time now.” Ahhhhh, you’re TERRIBLE man! Heh.
“Dude, come on! It’s eleven-thirty, Brian’s gonna be here in half an hour, and we’ve got the set everything up for practice!”
Ugh, waking Stephen up is not easy. And then when he finally got up, 20 minutes later, he took a shower! Geez dude.
Yes, my alarm did go off at 10, and yes I had wanted to get up in time to go over to the rummage sale before Brian came at noon and practice started... but I just shut it off, laid back in still, rested comfort, and wondered if I’d fall back asleep again. I guess the answer was yes :-)
Brian ended up coming later, and I wasn’t done setting up until after Steve got back with the bass amp from church, so it all worked out.
“That was swEET, guys!”
“Yeah man! We could almost do those four songs just like that for the concert!”
America Blue, Regular Basis, Straight from the Nails, and Walking Dust in quick succession had kicked our practice off to a rockin’ start. This is one of the predominant images or memories in my mind from this trip: the joy and togetherness of playing with Brian and Stephen. Steve really echoed my thoughts (brainwaves, man!) when he was talking about how our lack of practice last semester would either break the band or make it much stronger. When we clicked off the first song on December 30th and blasted right back in after 3 months apart, I knew we were stronger, not weaker, for the absence. Each of our practices this year have been marked by new innovations with old songs, finishing and arranging and modifying new songs, and in general playing very well together, remembering stuff well, and enjoying the sweet tones of Philip’s new bass and the church’s kickin’ bass amp. I really can’t describe how it feels to sit behind the drums and play with two guys who know exactly what to do, what to play, and play it well, and to have the three of us make music—low pounding bass, guitar filling in all the chords and leads, drums and fills and kick beats, vocals and harmonies….. it’s what makes people be in bands! I’m excited for our new songs, and I’ve been thinking perhaps God is leading towards starting work on our second album. We may end up being more of a studio band, since it’s tough to find concert contexts for a band of Christian minors (well, 2 minors anyway). I’m excited for the new songs, and I’m excited that all of us are writing, and getting into the process, and coming up with good stuff, and then getting together and working it out with the band, and working over ideas, and being willing to give up our preferences, and coming out with some sweet music. God, Thy will be done, as I keep praying! Brian and Stephen, I love you guys!
“Oh, of course.”
Such was Brian’s response when I mentioned the “Taco Bell Break” we’d be taking Saturday afternoon. I mean, seriously…how could we not?? Spicy chicken crunchwrap supreme, baby! And with one brief primer question (What’s God been doing in your life lately?) we all jumped in to an hour or so of real conversation and discussion—infinitely more satisfying than an hour of banal blabber :-) Brian’s cell phone / mp3 player is sweet, too. And we rung the bell, and didn’t care if they thought we were lame, ‘cause we’d had a blast, and the food was good, and we love Taco Bell!
“Hey Dad, it’s John! Hi! Well, let’s see…we had a sweet practice, and then Mrs. Hoffman came home around 7 and told us Mr. H was stuck in the mud outside the rummage sale. Heh. So we finished up and went over and got him out. And then we were like, ‘aw, we can’t let this be the end of the day!’ So we stopped at Burger King for Brian, and then just decided to go to the Murphys. So.. we randomly showed up on the Murphy’s porch, and rang the doorbell, and Justin let us in, so we stood inside and talked for like 15 minutes, and finally Mr. Murphy invited us to sit down, and we ended up hanging out for like 2 hours! Heh, it was pretty sweet! We helped him think of a worship song for the morning, and played guitar and stuff…it was a pretty cool Akron thing to do :-) So, I really don’t feel like driving home right now, I just…I dunno, can’t picture driving back now. I’m thinking of staying the night here, and then driving to church in the morning and getting there at the normal time. ‘Cause then I wouldn’t need to leave till 7:30 or so, and I’ve been wanting a week off from the worship team anyway, and this would be more efficient sleep-wise. So, yeah, that’s what I’m thinkin’. Heh. Aight. Well, have a good night! I’ll see you tomorrow!”
"Duuude, I'm so excited! Oh my gash! I've had this in my head for so long, and to hear the guitar and piano together is just amazing!"
Steve had been trying to work his song out for months, playing me bits and pieces of sweet-sounding chords and melodies on guitar and piano, and claiming it was the best song he'd ever written. The time was finally right that night, with practice over, parents asleep upstairs, and a keyboard and an electric guitar plugged into a sweet 15" bass amp in the post-practice dance room, half below ground on a snowy night in Akron. I was in a post-caffeine, post-practice tiredness stupor, flopping in front of the amp, letting every strum of my strat fill me with joy (it sounded SO good through that amp!!), and sinking deeper and deeper into Steve's song. We got the arrangement nailed down, and I learned the guitar parts and got the feel for how it goes. Great great time sharing some deep music. And then we watched "Conspiracy Theory," and talked a bunch, and finally went to bed. And I was more rested than I expected the next morning, and it was cool to wake up in Akron and go to church in Pittsburgh :-)
I love Pure Boss :-) Thank You Lord for every time we've been able to play together, and every song You've given us, and all the enjoyment you pour out through this marvelous thing called music!
--Clear Ambassador
Monday, February 06, 2006
Pittsburgh visit :-P
The length of time between this post and my previous one indicates well the preoccupation of my time in the last two weeks with work, school, travels/hanging out, and recording. At last I am taking as short a time as possible to jot down the weekend before this past one.
January 27-29th, 2006
I was finally home for a weekend, after having been gone seemingly for months. I made up for my absence by hanging out with the Pittsburgh youth all Friday night and all afternoon Saturday, and all afternoon Sunday. Friday night Daniel and Sarah had organized a dinner at Eat 'n' Park, which ended up having 14 diners. I mostly got to catch up on things with Justin, get to know Jess and her friend Steph, who are relatively knew to PChOP, and catch up on the vibes of the YPCG-type group, in which I was once immersed. My respect for Daniel and Justin has deepened, and I learned more of my own limitations and pride. We hung out at EnP for a long time, were frustrated in our plans to go bowling, and ended up filling the Calano's living room till past midnight. Playing cards, playing guitar, doing push-ups, catching up, and enjoying fun company all combined to make this a rock 'n' roll evening. (I sound like an ad here, gosh!)
Saturday at 1:30 Daniel and I hit Quinlisk Park for frisbee. Yay for ultimate! The turnout was fairly light (from three to five per team), but the quality of play was excellent, the weather was GORGEOUS, the field wasn't too muddy, and I really had a lot of fun. Except Nate just couldn't get his wind, so we were sorta down a player :-( But I stopped the unstoppable Justin Harvey a couple times, and even made one catch myself, which was gratifying. After pounding ourselves on the turf in the quest for the disc we piled into cars and drove to Chick-fil-A, where Matt Q and Steve Schuch were working. We got cheap food from sweet coupons and sat around eating and talking and switching tables and sharing more semi-banal but still enjoyable conversation. Finally Daniel and I dragged ourselves back home. My knees held up admirably to the all-out game I played on them, but my leg muscles whined at me for the next 4 days. No problem, man--I'll take muscle soreness any day over stupid unexplained joint pain.
Saturday night was touched with the hand of God. Mom and Dad were at a potluck with Dad's men's group's couples, Daniel was at "The Importance of Being Earnest" with a bunch of folks, and Mike Quinlisk came over and helped me record drums for the punk song I wrote the day before. I was bursting at the seams to get it recorded, and with Mike at the helm of the computer I was able to sit at the drums and just play and play and take and take until we got it right. In two hours we had genuinely satisfactory drums for the entire song. I was ecstatic! It is SO much easier to record with another person! Oy. That night I stayed up way late and recorded all the bass for the song, too--working through it and getting the bass part to a level of technical correctness that made the song sound real, not like a lame basement recording. WOW, man! This is what happens when God is behind a recording project! Seriously.
Sunday I played drums at church (which went very well), listened to Joel's great message about Jesus being the only true source of help, and then headed to the Quinlisks with my men's group for lunch and prayer. Both were enjoyable and profitable. Daniel was at "The Point of the Spear" with a group of his peeps, and Ryan and Christa (newly engaged! *giggles*) were hangin' at the Q's. So I hung around, plunked guitar, and, with a violent start, remembered the go-kart sitting in their garage! So Mike and I dragged it out and I spent a euphoric 30 minutes fulfilling my heretofore unrealized childhood dream of driving a go-kart. SO sweet! When you're that low to the ground, even 10mph feels fast. Ahhh :-)
Finally Daniel got back, we toodled around some more, and eventually left and went home. Quite a weekend, and quite startlingly filled with activities. I was very glad to be able to catch up with folks here, and to record my song, and to play frisbee, and to spend time with the cool and friendly folks of God's church.
--Clear Ambassador
January 27-29th, 2006
I was finally home for a weekend, after having been gone seemingly for months. I made up for my absence by hanging out with the Pittsburgh youth all Friday night and all afternoon Saturday, and all afternoon Sunday. Friday night Daniel and Sarah had organized a dinner at Eat 'n' Park, which ended up having 14 diners. I mostly got to catch up on things with Justin, get to know Jess and her friend Steph, who are relatively knew to PChOP, and catch up on the vibes of the YPCG-type group, in which I was once immersed. My respect for Daniel and Justin has deepened, and I learned more of my own limitations and pride. We hung out at EnP for a long time, were frustrated in our plans to go bowling, and ended up filling the Calano's living room till past midnight. Playing cards, playing guitar, doing push-ups, catching up, and enjoying fun company all combined to make this a rock 'n' roll evening. (I sound like an ad here, gosh!)
Saturday at 1:30 Daniel and I hit Quinlisk Park for frisbee. Yay for ultimate! The turnout was fairly light (from three to five per team), but the quality of play was excellent, the weather was GORGEOUS, the field wasn't too muddy, and I really had a lot of fun. Except Nate just couldn't get his wind, so we were sorta down a player :-( But I stopped the unstoppable Justin Harvey a couple times, and even made one catch myself, which was gratifying. After pounding ourselves on the turf in the quest for the disc we piled into cars and drove to Chick-fil-A, where Matt Q and Steve Schuch were working. We got cheap food from sweet coupons and sat around eating and talking and switching tables and sharing more semi-banal but still enjoyable conversation. Finally Daniel and I dragged ourselves back home. My knees held up admirably to the all-out game I played on them, but my leg muscles whined at me for the next 4 days. No problem, man--I'll take muscle soreness any day over stupid unexplained joint pain.
Saturday night was touched with the hand of God. Mom and Dad were at a potluck with Dad's men's group's couples, Daniel was at "The Importance of Being Earnest" with a bunch of folks, and Mike Quinlisk came over and helped me record drums for the punk song I wrote the day before. I was bursting at the seams to get it recorded, and with Mike at the helm of the computer I was able to sit at the drums and just play and play and take and take until we got it right. In two hours we had genuinely satisfactory drums for the entire song. I was ecstatic! It is SO much easier to record with another person! Oy. That night I stayed up way late and recorded all the bass for the song, too--working through it and getting the bass part to a level of technical correctness that made the song sound real, not like a lame basement recording. WOW, man! This is what happens when God is behind a recording project! Seriously.
Sunday I played drums at church (which went very well), listened to Joel's great message about Jesus being the only true source of help, and then headed to the Quinlisks with my men's group for lunch and prayer. Both were enjoyable and profitable. Daniel was at "The Point of the Spear" with a group of his peeps, and Ryan and Christa (newly engaged! *giggles*) were hangin' at the Q's. So I hung around, plunked guitar, and, with a violent start, remembered the go-kart sitting in their garage! So Mike and I dragged it out and I spent a euphoric 30 minutes fulfilling my heretofore unrealized childhood dream of driving a go-kart. SO sweet! When you're that low to the ground, even 10mph feels fast. Ahhh :-)
Finally Daniel got back, we toodled around some more, and eventually left and went home. Quite a weekend, and quite startlingly filled with activities. I was very glad to be able to catch up with folks here, and to record my song, and to play frisbee, and to spend time with the cool and friendly folks of God's church.
--Clear Ambassador
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