I Feel Like Such A Rock Star

It's official. The plane ticket has been purchased and I can say with 100% assurance that one Mr. Forrest Layton will be playing with me February 16-17 at Clear Lake Baptist DNOW.

It will be so cool to introduce him on stage as "Forrest Layton from Nashville, Tennessee."

I don't have to tell them he's really from Lufkin, do I?

Just finished Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. Might as well start at the beginning, right?

I had read a great deal about the book before buying it...certainly saw and heard the hype surrounding it when it blew up awhile back.

Having finished it, my feelings are mixed. There were some parts that I found really inspiring or "neat." These were parts that seemed important - definitely things that blessed/challenged me.

But there were a lot of parts I just didn't get into. I kinda' got tired of the "I have a lot questions about God" stuff or the political side. Believe me - I have no problem with questions of God or politics. I like them both.

I just felt like Miller spent a lot of time talking about himself and, to me, it seemed like he really wanted me to think he's a cool/intellectual/seeker. He is, no doubt, but after finishing it, I can't say I liked the book.

Anybody esle read this and have the same sort of ambivalence about it?

Finally finished 2nd level of Splinter Cell last night! I suck at video games but I really do love them!

I'm on vacation this week, so the blog may not be too crackin'. I've still got to get up to the church to do a tiny bit of editing and to finish the demos. (Sorry, Ross. I have lots of good excuses why I haven't finished them.)

I've booked a few gigs in the last little while, so you'll notice a little activity over on the GIGS section of the blog. 2007 is going to be pretty exciting because I'm going to get the chance to play with a lot of different musicians. This will certainly help keep me on my toes.

Glad to see Paulo Nutini getting a ton of exposure as of late. If you can, give him a listen. He's pretty good. And, as always, the Brenton Brown record may be the best worship record out right now.

I'm gonna' be blogging more on the worshipnotes side hopefully. I'm actually writing an article about V-Drums. Yeah. I ain't scared.

Keep Hope Alive...
Todd.

The Way I Spent My Night

Thanks to half.com, I recently bought Splinter Cell:Chaos Theory for $9. Yeah, $9.

It came yesterday and once the children were in bed and the living room cleared of toy debris, I popped it in and began playing.

2 hours later, I had only finished the first level. This thing is like actually being in the army.

No? Just Me?

Does it bug you when you go to somebody's blog and they haven't posted? Do you expect a post per day?

If so, what's the "bug factor?" How much does it bug you to keep reading the same blog over and over: 1-10 (1 is I Love It and 10 is Punch My Computer.)

I know a lot of you are pretty connected with Passion. Many of you went to Passion 07 and others stay in touch with the Passion podcast and other web-connective features of the 268 Generation.

Here's my question to those of you that are still pretty aware of Mr. Giglio's movement...

Is Passion done? Is it still viable and important to the spiritual climate of the American church?

From a music perspective, I have felt that Passion's musical offerings as of late have lacked the freshness of years past, but my question isn't necessarily confined to music.

Is Passion as important as ever?

Hey, I'm really excited about this film that's just come out.

...

Apparently, it's about a young, idealistic teacher who encounters and rough and tumble scrabble of inner-city kids who have no future.

...

Then, through the power of belief and education, the kids find themselves fighting their way back to hope.

...

What a fresh idea! What will Hollywood think of next?

...

You know what would be really cool? To take this idea and put it in an athletic context. (Maybe a football/basketball coach tasked to head up a losing-streak team filled all sorts of interpersonal/financial/cultural struggle?)

...

Just an idea...

A Todd Observation:

You're not Hardcore if you have one hardcore "outfit."

The Courtship Has Begun...

Sure, they enjoyed a Coke Float together. But can they overcome Jonah's addiciton to peanut butter?

For me...it's a no-brainer. If I am in an establishment that offers curly fries, I must have them.

My policy is that curly fries ALWAYS trump regular french fries.

Who's with me? What's your position on "curly" vs. "straight-cut?"

STORM review

Set went good, but contracted a diabolical migraine immediately after the event was over. Head pounding, sweating profusely, seeing lights, unable to speak (for real.) It was kinda' like I was havin' a seizure.

I think it was a migraine, but, yes, Mom, I will talk to the doctor.

Other than flubbing a few lines and thinking I was going to have a stroke in the Lufkin IHOP, the night turned out to be pretty good. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

If any of you in Lufkin hear the tumultuous thunder of drums, guitars, bass and vocalizations tomorrow night . . . . it's coming from Harmony Hill.

However, if you hear five guys trying to play through some songs without making fools of themselves, it's the TWB.

If you can come, the thing starts at 7:45pm. God help us.

This is Flight of the Conchords. My new favorite "band." Hilarious.

They're all over YouTube...check them out because they won't disappoint.

Jonah's Birthday Party...

When all the kdis got to Jonah's party, we had "hero music" playing a video of Jonah in his hero getup running around the yard punching and kicking. The kids got to pick a cape and head over to the "mask table" where they picked a mask and decorated it.

Jonah already had a mask but decided to do some add-ons. Note the pink flower. Apparently, he wanted to be a kinder, gentler hero.

When it was time for cake, all the kids headed over to the cake table to find that the cake was missing. It had been replaced with a ransom note from the Evil Lord Brandoni.

The heroes then went on a scavenger hunt finding clues that eventually led them to Brandoni, fast asleep on a couch. Using their "brandonium," (which were glow sticks, they attacked Brandoni and he gave back the cake.) We ate cake and opened presents.

This is 20Q. My mother-in-law got it for me for Christmas.
Not only is a great way to spend your free time, I think it might be smarter than me.

And maybe possessed.

Here's an idea that somebody should have stopped from happening.

Seriously, I've been listening to it.

Why?

I'm not quite sure.

Tomorrow is Jonah's Birthday Party. It's a Super Hero Theme. (The picture to left went out as our invitation.) It's rumored that Evil Lord Brandoni will show up at the party and steal the cake before the members of the Super Jonah Justice League can eat it...that's the current status of our recon at this time.

Gee, I wonder who's gonna' play Brandoni...

Tried to add a link to my new flickr account...go check it out and see if its working.

Later...will post pics of party as soon as possible!

January 12th

Had TWB practice the other night for STORM weekend coming up next Friday (1/12/07.) We got off to a slow start, but I left the rehearsal feeling really good about the set.

I want to take a second to brag on the guys I'm playing with. (Watch - I'm going to say nice things about them and then they'll post sarcastic comments because my love makes them uncomfortable.)

Romack - Been with the TWB the longest. (Except for the TW.) I am constantly impressed by Justin, though not only because of his playing. His playing IS fantastic, but I am also so encouraged to him talk about drums. It's very rare to find drummers who actually consider themselves worship leaders. Justin in constantly assessing and adjusting his playing, not to produce the most impressive performance, but to make sure that the worship experience is free of distraction and as focused as possible.

Jinx - Is there anything this dude can't do? Guitar?Check. Vocals?Check. Synth?Why not? I absolutely love playing with this guy standing beside me. Primarily because it enhances my own cool factor just to be near him, but secondly because he's a phenomenal talent who is always striving to create soundscapes that will take our songs to uncharted places. Plus he has rap on his iPod.

Brad - Bass players are tricky folks, and often it's hard to find bass players that are...well...normal. Brad Anderson is the most normal dude I know, and I love it. Brad is so consistent on stage and off. Musically, the guy just doesn't miss and he's always willing to follow me into the unknown during my spontaneous setlist changes. I also love the fact that this guy is faithful to his God, his church and his friends with a dedication that I don't see very often. Brad has also been so patient as I've utilized other bass players in the past. Some dudes would get mad, but Brad's servant heart continues to gain big brownie points in my book.

Ryan - I'm not gonna' lie. There are people who said I couldn't do two electrics. Well, they were wrong. STORM will be Ryan's second gig with the 4-man TWB and I can't wait. I've been so impressed that Ryan has be willing to focus on making the electric rhythm as solid as can be. Some guys just can't wait to show off their stuff, but Ryan so perfectly understands his role in the band and brings such focus to it. I should also say that to see Jinx and Ryan work together has been really impressive. It's like they're communicating mentally or something w/ regard to riffs and leads, etc.

For those of you in the Lufkin area, I would love for you to come out on Friday, January 12th at First Methodist and see what these guys can do. I don't want to be that guy who constantly begs people to come to "his" show...really, I don't. But I'm just so proud of these guys that I want as many people as possible to hear what they're doing and to see how much they enjoy it.

Jonah's Birthday

For Jonah's birthday on Monday, Kristen and I got him Lego Star Wars II - The Original Trilogy. As some of you may remember, I (and Jonah) received the first edition of the Lego Star Wars game and had many enjoyable hours playing together.

I don't care if you're a gamer or not, if you grew up with Luke, Leia, Han and Chewy, YOU NEED TO PLAY THIS GAME.

Downside: Everytime you go back to the "Cantina" in between levels, the game keeps a running clock of how long you've been playing. (So you can feel ashamed everytime you finish a level.)

XMAS 2006

I got money. I was glad.


Strangely enough, this smile is totally sincere. He was quite excited.

Kristen looks beautiful. Finley looks a bit terrified by the holiday, doesn't she?