Diary of a Styrofoam Candidate

Posted 1:24 PM by Luke
Ok, well here I go. I am going to try to recreate the gist of what I said the other day that got deleted :)

Back in the saddle

After what seemed like years, I finally reinserted myself into the world of live music this weekend. I saw Jay Farrar (of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt fame) at the Blue Note here. It all came rushing back as I walked into the Blue Note and felt that rush of excitement, knowing that I was about to get my ears cleaned out with a few hours of great music. The incomparable anticipation built as we stood in front of the stage, watching them setup. It was a good show, with excellent music. I must admit, though, that Jay Farrar is the LEAST engaging performer I have ever seen. I can't believe that after playing for like 15 years, he doesn't know how to work the crowd a bit better. It almost seemed like he didn't really enjoy it and just wanted to play his songs and get out. This girl right next to us was holding up a sign for him to play "Moonshiner," his best song, and he totally blew her off. That irked me a bit. But nonetheless, it was good music. His lead guitarist was one of the most amazing guitarists I have ever seen, and he whipped out the pedal steel, which was tight because I never get to see those played, and I love them when they are used properly (i.e. non-radio station-super-slick-cheese-country). And they covered an obscure Beatles song "Love You To," and did it quite well, I must say. They added a unique flavor to it.

Happy 21st B-Day shout-outs to Mark "O-Z" Osmack and Sarah the Protz, who is currently in London. You guys are now n the world of adulthood...DON DON DONNNNNN (dramatic music interlude). Don't worry, I am close behind ;) I took the OZ out to lunch and had a good time catching up. Sorry I can't make it London Sarah :(

Two important events that have occured:
1) I got accepted, along with Caleb and Jay, my boys, to Vail summer project. I will be spending two months there sharing my faith and growing in awesome ways. I can't wait to see what God has for me!
2) (With update since Monday). Orginally, on Monday I had intended to menion that I FINALLY wrote a complete song on the guitar. I have been longing to do that for quite some time, and I got a good kick in the butt from my friend Courtney to just do it and not worry about how great it is to start with. So I did, and I am so glad to finally have that first one out. However, I must add to that that since Monday, I have written another! I was bored in class and words just started coming, so I wrote and put them to music when I got home. Funny how this starts flowing once you do it a bit. Keep em comin!

Grumblings of a disgruntled tenant
Let me tell you a little story about an EROT landlord here in Columbia. The aforementioned landlord does not do the job, folks. I wonder often what said lessor does during the day. In fact, said lessor is a company, so there are several emloyees there to do the job. But, when we call in out problems, said landlord does not seem to take immediate action. When we moved in, for instance, we were without AC for 5 weeks, even though we repeatedly called the aforementioned diligent landlord many times during those 5 weeks. And of course, by the time we had AC, the outdoor temperature was a smooth 70 degrees, thus negating our need for AC. Several other similar instances have occured. The greatest indicator of said incompetent's hard-working attitude is illustrated when I go to tell them of a problem and watch as one of the employees writes said problem on the back of a used envelope, which likely gets thrown in the trash immediately upon my exit. I recommend that they check out the wondeful modern tool, the organizer. Said organizers come in many different styles, but they all ineviteably help one do a certain thing: organize. Studies have shown that use of such tools is significantly more efficient than the out-of-date back-of-the-used-envelope method. Said organizers may be purchased at Office Depot, Walmart and many other similar avenues of trade and commerce.

Musical fun fact: When I typed this on Monday, I was listening to Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head. Great album that's really grown on me. If they continue improving like this, they are gonna be one stinkin awesome band. Perhaps I will go see them at Red Rocks this summer :) "The Scientist" just cuts straight to my heart. What a painful but lovely song.
"Questions of science, science and progress, do not speak as loud as my heart."
--Coldplay, "The Scientist"

"My worth to God in public is what I am in private."
--Oswald Chambers