Thursday, October 30, 2008

New Music Thursday: Fun Music

Newcomer Eric Hutchinson has had a song out for a couple months that I did not know about until the other day. I know it isn't exactly "new music" as it has been out for a while, but I loved the song and wanted to make sure I blogged about it. Rock and Roll is fresh, light, and would be a great summer song (too bad its almost Halloween). Nevertheless, it is fun and very entertaining.

I love Jon McLaughlin. I think he is so amazingly talented and better than Jon Mayer any day. His first release, Indiana, was fantastic and it is still in our car and we listen to it all the time. Then he followed that up with an Oscar nominated song "So Close" from Enchanted. Now, his sophomoric release, OK Now, is equally fantastic and I am so glad to hear new stuff from him. You Can Never Go Back is 70s type disco feel song that ironically chants that we can never go back to the past. Its catchy, fun, and a foot-patting good time! Listen and see if you don't feel the same way.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Monday, October 27, 2008

Dharmageddon!

Can't wait until February!


There are a couple things to point out here:
At :39, does anyone else see "Dharma Initiative" flash across the screen?
At :46, Locke is holding a compass. Remember when that compass was one of the things that Alpert asked 8 year old Locke if it was his? Spooky!
At :49, Hurley has a gun!!!! Yee haw!!!
At 1:00, Juliet and Sawyer have ended up becoming the leaders of the remaining survivors simply by accident. That should make for an interesting storyline.
At 1:07, Ben says "Thank God for second chances." What he really means is, "Thank God I have a second chance to get revenge on Widmore by killing his daughter." Look for Ben's and Penny's paths to ultimately cross in the season 5 finale.

February people. You might want to go ahead and turn off your phones now just so you aren't bothered during the episode!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

New Music Thursday: Not for Long

I am dedicating today's new music to my beautiful wife Jess. Brody is now almost 5 weeks old and she is really persevering through this time of no sleep, constant crying, and continuous feedings. She is such a trooper and doing better than anyone would expect someone in her position to do. I am so proud of her. So for her today, I offer Darius Rucker's new single It Won't Be Like This For Long. Jess, I hope it encourages you and offers hope when the long nights seem to become a little too long. I love you!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A Fantastic Lady

I remember the summers I spent with my grandmother--how she would take us to this museum for kids. I remember how we would drag her to her pool everyday and spend hours there. I remember her and I watching and loving The Golden Girls every Saturday night. I remember spilling grape juice on my white pants in church and Mamaw getting the stain out. I remember playing cards and Mamaw always saying, "Take a chance, Columbus did." I remember stopping at Hardee's with just Mamaw and me on the way to Myrtle Beach when I was 18 and for the first time feeling grown-up. I remember Mamaw making the world's best chicken and dumplings. I remember taking my grandmother as a "Single Person Over 21" to be a checklist item on a Scavenger Hunt on the cruise she sent my family on. I remember laughing and dancing with her to "Tennessee Waltz" at my wedding. I remember crying with her and listening to her stories when her daughter passed away. I remember babysitting my cousin Collin with her which was the first time I had ever been around a baby. I remember her teaching crafts to people 20 years her junior. I remember Mamaw and Jess combing through photo albums for what seemed like hours. I remember her delighted reaction to hearing the news that we were pregnant and then hearing a more excited reaction of congratulations when Brody was born. I remember a lady that could hardly ever spell my name correctly. I remember playing in her walk-in closet as a kid and thinking that it was the most hidden place on earth. I remember how much my grandmother loved her family and only wanted the best for them. I remember a woman that loved and trusted God. I remember a fantastic lady!

Monday, October 13, 2008

It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times

Saturday was one of the best days. I went to my friend Angela's wedding and it was absolutely so much fun. I saw friends I hadn't seen in 4-6 years. It was like we never left college. We danced, drank, told stories, reminisced and most of all, laughed. It was fantastic. Here is a video of when Angela and her new husband Jamie came in to the reception.



So you can imagine the high I was on when the world around me seemed to collapse on Sunday night when my mom called and told me that my grandmother had passed away. She lived a long full life and I am grateful for the time I got to spend with her. I don't wish that she were still here with us. I am glad that she is home, in no pain, and with her daughter and husband who she hasn't seen in almost 40 years. The only thing I am sad about is that she didn't get to meet Brody. But that is a selfish desire and its not like they won't meet. They will meet one day. But instead of it being 3 months until they met, it will be more like 80 years. That will be a good day and I hope I am there to introduce them!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

New Music Thursday: A Tale of Two Women

Today's new music comes from two inspiring women who are really at the top of their craft. Alcia Keys has a new duet with Jack White called Another Way to Die. It is the new theme song from the upcoming James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. It is very edgy and very fresh. I have never heard metal and rythm and blues mixed like this. It's definitely different, but in a good way. The second new song comes from country vocal powerhouse, Jamie O'Neal. Jess loves her and always tells people how she ran into her in the doctor's office. Nevertheless, she comes back on an independent label and proclaims her sultriness with Like A Woman. This song is a cry from the heart of every female and there is no one that can do cry-singing like Jamie can. (See God Don't Make Mistakes) It is a very good comeback and will hopefully do well in radio.

Cheers to two of the industry's best.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Rainy Day

It's raining in Nashville and it seems that life is just raining everywhere. My family is getting little sleepas Brody doesn't want to cooperate with us very much, my grandmother is in the hospital with a severe illness that will more than likely take her life hopefully later rather than sooner, the country has to choose a leader between Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee in less than a month, and the rain today only symbolizes the cloudiness of life right now. However, on days like this, when things are blue, I am remember the two basic points that ignite my existence: Jesus is still in charge and I'm still saved. So things aren't going my way right now...it's still a good day!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Why is Everybody Always Hatin' on me?

There are some things that have really gotten on my nerves this week. And I need to let it out. So here are some things that I've been hating this week.

1. Eye Infections - I have had this eye infection off and on for 5 months. I am done with it. We have got to figure out what is going on!

2. Cracker Barrel - yes, there pancakes are good but apparently this is the only restaurant that anyone knows to go to. I am so through with this place. I am not going back at least until next year! And that is only if someone drags me there. I would be fine to never go back in my life!

3. Post-Debate Analysis - Everyone always claims that their candidate won the debate and every media outlet in the world is seeking some professional's opinion when the professional's agenda is only to further their candidate's hopes for office. And while we're at it, please spare me the post-debate focus groups where the last 20 people who are too stupid to have made up their mind by this point are corralled together, have a microphone shoved in their face and asked "what do you think?" and then we get their answer back, "he was a little mean." Lah!

So instead of just ranting and raving, let me also give you some of the things that I am lovin' this week.

1. It's Friday!

2. The new season of Heroes. Finally this show has morphed into what it should have been all along!

3. Team Hoyt. I saw Dick speak at a conference yesterday and it is truly amazing what the human body and spirit will do ... amazing and inspiring!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

New Music Thursday: Sara Buxton

Sara Buxton is seriously one of the best Nashville has to offer. Her debut album got crushed a couple years ago by Christmas songs a flurry on the radio. She wasn't given a fair shot with that album and my friend at Lyric Street says that the whole label is more behind her than any other artist they have. Here is Stupid Boy writer's latest single called Space. This is a love it or hate it song. So it will not surprise me at all when half of you out there listen to it and say, "What?!?! I don't get it!" But the other half will have it on their iPods before the end of the day! I hope you enjoy it!