Ramblings and Whatevers

Uneventful Blogging

I have been fairly uninspired this week with blogging. Why I don’t know but even right now it feels like more of a chore than a want. Sara and I have strated the Purpose Driven Life. I like it allot. It lasts 40 days and I think that Sara and I are both sort of looking for a change. This has been said change and is like I said something that is uplifting in a spiritual way. Either way it gets us closer to finding our purpose. I met the infamous (more than famous) Michael. He is a friend of Saras that lives in New York. I like him allot. He really is a great nice guy. Its neat to meet him because now I am kind of pumped to go to New York for his wedding. There is just so much I want to do in NY. Sara and I only have a few days. I figure we will see yankee stadium even though I am not a baseball fan. I still want to see it. Talk about American history. Also I want to get a slice of pizza. Eat Chinese food in china town and go record shopping and to Sine (where Jeff Buckley used to play). I strangely enough do not want to see the statue of liberty. I suppose we will have to see where the twin towers were. I hear that’s a must do. With the little time we have though some things are going to have to give and I have never been a very good tourist. I always want to do things off the beaten path. Like when Sara and I are in Hawaii I want to do the Jacaranda 10k. Its in Maui but since I have never been to Maui I have no idea if where we are staying is close or far from this place. Either way I think it would be a very neat experience my last full day in Maui with the lovely Mrs. Brazelton. Anywho this weekend is the engagement party and that should be fun. The whole family is coming in for it. I am excited. We get loot as well as to get a little Krunk. Also the Flintstones get to meet the Jetsons. That really is the best way to describe the meeting of my friends and all of Saras friends. For someone who didn’t want to write anything I sure managed allot didn’t I? Take care!

Midlake and the Weekend

Denton Texas is the home town of the band Midlake. I have never listened to any of their previous efforts but The Trials of Van Occupanther is awesome. Described by many as a return to early 70’s Laurel Canyon (A tiny community within L.A... Think University park) singer songwriters it really does capture a smooth and soft groove reminiscent of the 70’s music. Obviously in today’s culture it’s much different. Interpretation is everything I suppose. Recreation is totally impossible. The songwriting though isn’t nearly as poetic. It’s the music that really makes this album. Slow moody and as I said before groovy. With lines like “I ask these people but I shouldn’t bother, Van Occupanther” you can see where my disappointment truly lies. Overall though you can put aside the lyrics and listen to the melodies which are truly striking and beautiful. The soft voices rising in one place to act as a seminal lead instrument then to be followed by a violin arrangement that is beautiful and a tad haunting. Overall really awesome.

Well the weekend was a little different. Sara had some engagements this weekend so I was left to mostly my own devices. Didn’t do much! Ran both Sat. and Sun. That really felt nice. Like I’m getting back into the groove. Its going to take allot of work but I can manage. On Sat morning Sara and I went and got me some boots. Luchesse’s very nice. They are black for the wedding. The more I think about it the more messed up it may seem to people that I am making them buy black boots. I didn’t really think about it at first but most of my friends don’t wear them and like Zach never will after either. I’m sure Nix is the same way! My bad fellas. Anywho yesterday went and saw jumper. As far as action is concerned it was really good but had no plot really. Sara said it best. It was like the first two chapters of a book. Last night the Oscars were on and Daniel Day Lewis won an Oscar for best actor in There Will Be Blood. Man he deserves it. I have seen 3 of the 5 nominated movies and he was much better than George Clooney. So evil and crazy the more I think about that movie the more I think I really liked it. I am going to have to see it again to make sure. Overall a chill and pretty good weekend. Next weekend is the big engagement party and that should be fun. Take care everybody

I'm From Barcelona

If you read my blog everytime I blog then you most likely remember me talking about the above mentioned band. So this morning I am driving to work listening to the indie rock station on my Sirius satellite radio ( I wish they would pay me for my shamless plugs) and a commercial for the indie station comes on. The commercial states “Left of Center playing all the music your friends will love…..6 months from now.” This put a smile on my face. Because after that they played I’m from Barcelona. I heard of and purchased I’m from Barcelona’s cd six months ago. In fact its on my albums you should know list. So the greatest thing is that I am ahead of those who are ahead of everyone else in terms of musical selections. My gloriousness has become my downfall. Since I am beyond even people whos only job is to find new music I feel like I should be given some sort of medal for knowing more than them! A small victory for the little guy!

Foot and Mrs. Foot have made it back to the big D. I am glad they are home they both need a break I’m sure. Unfortunately they will have to go back to MD but lets face it….when it comes to cancer that’s where you want to go. Just glad to have them back and I want to go on record and challenge young foot to a battle of wills. A duel if you will. Guitar Hero you name the time and place but make sure you call the ambulance because I will send you away in a body bag I am so good. Just kidding Im AWESOME!!

Later Tater!

Ch Ch Ch Changes

Today was a different day. I walked into work and noticed the place looked fairly empty. LA had picked up his stuff and left. TB my new boss or Terry. I like to call him TB. That’s what I have known him by for a while so it only makes sense is here. Not to say that he and I will always see eye to eye. I look forward to having him as my boss though. He is hard but fair and its really nice to have some direction and leadership in the office. Someone not afraid to say hey whats up with so and so. You know a leader! So he has been here today trying to tie up loose ends. We are having a big meeting this week to discuss some things and I look forward to it.

OU sent me an email today it says “Congratulations on your admission to the College of Liberal Studies!” YEA! I don’t know I guess the pessimist in me kept thinking that I would get rejected. So I am not. In fact I am classified as a junior. HOORRAAYY!!! Just 60 more hours and I’m done. Hell it only took 10 years to get the first 60 done. Maybe I can finish up the last 60 in only 5.

Below is an email my Bro sent me today. I found it quite funny. Tech fans are strange people. That chip on their shoulders is just so big. It must be tough to carry around.

All I can say is that OU is about one inch ahead of A&M in my book. OU
fans are a lot like aggies except they usually win. They are always
making excuses about how Tech really isn't that good (even though we
beat them 2 out of the last 3 years). Still talking about how they got
screwed in the Oregon game 2 years ago. Making excuses for losing the
last 3 bcs games. Always talking about how they dominate the Big 12.
Never wanting to give any credit to any other teams out there. Still
talking about how it was a fluke that they got beat Boise State.

That's what I hear just about every other day at lunch. So even though
I am proud of for getting into OU, I know that I will have to hear that
same crap from you. Let me leave you with these final
words......O.....U......SUCKS.

He is so funny!

Have a great day. BOOMER..................SOONER!

Elizabethtown

If you haven't seen this Cameron Crowe masterpiece you should. The greatest line in this movie is when cosuin Jessie and Drew have a momment about their fathers.

Jessie: you and your dad were very close

Drew: Very close, I mean he was my dad. We were going to take a trip down here this summer. We were very very close. I knew him very well.

Jessie: Yea I don't know m Dad very well either.

These three lines catch what Cameron was trying to convey. Seeing as I always give history on albums and what not here is a little on The movie. Cameron was born around elizabethtown and his mom moved him to Californina. Camerons Dad and him never really knew each other. A couple of years ago after his dad died he was out on tour with Heart. His wife is one of the wilson sisters in Heart. The hot one. Anyway they were in Louisville and he started looking around and thinking. Grabbed a rental car and took off for two weeks around the south. Spending a majority of the time in and around Elizabethtown. Whenever he met up with Heart he had 95% of the script written. The soundtrack to this movie is fucking awesome as well. Cameron wanted to convey a sense of longing and I love longing. Zach my best friend doesnt like music and he loved this soundtrack. Thats saying something. Anyway the movie ends with this great road trip that the girl in the film has devised as a way to drew to get in touch with his father. It is a great movie. Complete with my morning jacket playing freebird. Sara doesn't like this film but for me its one of my favs. I guess it appeals to my personal melancholy. I guess there is a great journey in all of us. One that wants to know our parents. I mean know them the way we know our friends. Strip away the parental functions and get down to brass tacks. Take a roadtrip with them like in Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. I don't know if it would work but its bound to a little. I just wonder sometimes what it would be like to take that trip. Go around camping and driving. Seeing america an listening to tunes. Everything from the beatles to whiskeytown. Just me and my dad. Maybe one day we will. I hope so.

I have a question about church. Is it jut me or does going to churches exhausting. Sara and I have been looking for a church. I feel like Im being recruited by all these churches. Everyone has the key to my personal salvation. I assume that all depends on me either way but still. Its a sales push by transparent sales people. Preachers are good at what they do. In a way they are like musicians with gods word. They give you this feeling and are hoping that every week your come back for more. Growing up methodist thats difficult. The Methodist church moves their preachers around allot. I guess every 6 years or so you get to see a different act. Like finding a new band. Today we went to Park Cities Baptist. The whole sermon was about transforming and finding god. What would you do if Jesus came tomorrow. I feel like Methodist preachers want you to leave with a message while baptist preachers just want to scare you to death. Both ways work I suppose. I dont' know what im looking for in my faith. My spiritual walk. I like how I feel when I leave a service and feel connected to the message. It resonates with me. I found that in Lubbock but I haven't found it here. Although Prestonwood was a pretty neat place. I like my faith to feel renewed, energized. Isn't that what church is supposed to do? I left todays service feeling the opposite of that I felt nothing. In fact I almost felt like I didn't go to church at all. I don't know. In many ways I think I have struggled with church. I don't fell like I shold have to go to church. I know thats bad but thats the way I feel. Sara and I are going and I will say its much much easier when you have someone to go with. Makes it allot easier. I love sara and this weekend was great it was sort of an alone weekend for her and I. Took riday off to help her with some wedding stuff. She was getting a tad stressed about it with Jen being in Houston. Just a pretty chilled weekend. I love being around her. I can't stress or say that enough. I never get tired of her. For me thats a big deal. Hopefully the Barefeet will come home today or tomorrow. Foot had a minor set back yesterday. Hopefully we can get them back to dallas. I know they both miss home and lets face facts Houston sucks! Have a great week all.

Jeff Buckley

I have been reading this book about Jeff’s first and only true album Grace. It’s a good read thus far and whoever wrote it loves Buckley! For those of you unaware Jeff Buckley drowned in the Mississippi river in Memphis Tennessee. He is also the only son of folk great Tim Buckley who unexpectedly died in a plane crash. Anyway I enjoy this album. Hallelujah is my favorite song which Leonard Cohen wrote. “I heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the lord” great line. Tunes like Mojo Pin, Grace, and Dream Brother are great. I guess as times in my life come and go I find myself more into this album than others. I can’t exactly pinpoint when I am in to this like crazy but since I am reading the book I have been listening to the album. I just can’t do it. The songs drone on a bit. I feel uninterested in it. Guess I’m to damn happy. Stupid Sara! Ohh well. It’s still interesting to read about the making of this album.

Mitch one of Sara’s good friends helped aid me in a decision today. He then said he was wondering what I was into music wise lately. That’s a tough decision. So here is a short list
1. Drive By Truckers- Brighter than creations Dark
a. The Righteous Path faster sounding lyrics that rock
2. Dead Confederate-Ep
a. The Rat-great song steady haunting glorious
3. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- Southern Accents- see blog!
4. Band of Horses- since seeing them live can’t stop listening to them
5. Bob Dylan- Nashville Skyline- for some reason I started to listen to this one again
a. Girl From the North Country- duet with Cash awesome best song on the album

Other than that not allot going on really. Bfoot is doing well. He’s just kicking cancers ASS! Like expected.

Southern Accent

Tom Petty's beautiful song about the south is one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard. I listened to it twice with Sara and like 5 times since. According to Petty it was sort of a song about his mother and growing up in the south. Its a piano based song but Cash covered it on one of his american recordings. I love this song. It makes me think of west teas and growing up in a way that others don't understand. A way of life that is slower but more heartfelt. A place where friendships ring true and you know most everyone in the town. It makes me think of empty oil fields and rough necks. The mall and riding my bike around the neighbor hood with not a care in the world. This could be place in anyones heart where everything is just like this. I don't think my ids will get to grow up like this. The hssle and bussle that is Dallas isn't the same. But where we live reminds me of my old neighborhood just a little different. They won't get to see the oilfields or a west texas sunset that I don't care what anyone says rivals anything on earth. Especially when the entire sky is orange and you feel the cool breeze on your face and you cant help but smile at Gods Glory. Sara and I had a great weekend. Here it is sunday and I wonder where it went. We went out to the ranch yesterday and showed greg what he was up against, I had this song in m head when I looked out on the lake. I know i;m not being very concise but thoughts just keep rumbling around my head. We also went to church this morning. A mega church that is most likely bigger than than the Ector County Colliseum. The preacher was great though. He had a good message and I think we will go back there to some services. I love Sara so much. I look back on my life to here. I wonder sometimes if I could go back in time and tell a younger me that everything is going to work out in the end. Would I believe it? Would I still do the things I did? Would that change me. So often in my life I was lost and wondering in the dark. Not realizing that what I have been looking for and waiting for was around the corner. Like life the journey means more than the destination. I am the luckiest man alive. I have a woman who loves me and will for the rest of my life. In turn I am lucky enough to be able to do the same. The wedding is getting closer by the day and Im more and more excited about this. I will be her husband and she my wife. Hell I still call Sara my girlfriend some times. HA! I guess this is just a thought blog full of random recounts but its so beautiful outside its hard to sit here and write things. Everything gets done with a southern accent where I come from. I wouldn't have it any other way

slowhand

I swear sometimes to Sara it must seem as I live a secret life. I don’t do it on purpose but it just seems to happen. What’s weird is she never calls me on it either. I talk about albums and read things then blog about them. I seem to do allot of stuff and then she gets to read about it. That may seem mostly true to her. I mean a majority of the music I find I don’t introduce to her. Not because I think she can’t handle it. The opposite of that I know she won’t like it. I love the sad bastard songs and she doesn’t. When we first started dating I would listen to cd’s in the truck when I picked her up. Purposely making sure that a song was playing when she got in that I loved and reminded me of her. Of course as we drove down the road I would inevitably ask her what she thought of it only to be disappointed by her answer. So here I am about to blog about a book I’ve been reading at work when I can and to be honest I don’t know if she even realizes I got it from my mom for Christmas. I love Eric Clapton. I flew to San Antonio and met the rents there and we went and saw him. I loved the show. It was more Derek and the Dominoes than anything and my Dad and Mom hated it because they had never really listened to that album with the exception of Layla and maybe Bell Bottom Blues. When I was in Lubbock I listened to Derek and the Dominoes for a month straight I love that album. Layla and assorted love songs it’s called. It’s long, jammy, southern rockish and awesome. In fact Sirius plays D&theD allot. So anyway my parents didn’t like it but I did. I knew most of the songs and just had a great time. This is typical of me my mom said. You always know stuff about Rock bands we are supposed to know everything about that I’ve never even heard of my mom said to me. So back to the book its really good and self deprecating as well as poignant. Clapton is quick to point out his own flaws as well as I’m sure with a therapists help the things that triggered some flaws. It’s really good and very detailed. I wonder how he can remember these things after years of drug and alcohol abuse. He does though. I wonder if I could write a book so self apparent. I don’t mean that in a bad way I mean could I truly write something and show every facet of myself? Wouldn’t I rather hide some parts of me so that I could just save personal face? Clapton doesn’t and I applaud him for it. I’m not finished with the book yet but when im done with it I bet I will be a bigger Clapton fan than ever before.

2-2-08 Palladium Ballroom

First and foremost I want to say that I am a very lucky man. I bought tickets to go see band of horses in december without consulting the google calendar and there was a conflicting item on the schedule. Sara had the junior league ball and she didn't make me go. She knows how much I love this band and put that in front of what she wanted. I am a truly lucky man. Anyway Samo an dI go to eat with Cliff whose lovely wife went with sara. Then we head to the palladium. One thing Im going to say about Dallas is that everything is a scene. I experienced this when I came up here and saw coldplay. People talked the whole time and didn't seem to give a shit that a band was up there playing. It was more of a thing to be seen there than to actually care about what you are seeing. So there was two opening acts. The first was Tyler Ramsey who is the lead guitar player for Band of Horses. He was good did mostly instrumentals and what he sang you can see how BOH has such great melodies behind Ben Birdwell. Ramseys voice is very reminiscent of mark kozelek. Anyway it was a great opening act. Cass Mccombs came on and they sucked. They had three okay songs. Then the height of the evening. BOH. They came out and played a few of the slower songs. All awesome then kicked it in to gear. This is the point when I was getting pissed at the crowd. Nobody was into the music or anything. Assholes. So when BOH played no one is going to love you I missed Sara. I texted her just to show her that. I got a little drunk off of Shiner bock which I haven't spent that much money on booze in a long time. The funeral was played which is my favorite song of their first album. In fact its the highlight of the first album. SO as the encore is playing I see a guy wearing an odessa country club shirt. I go to talk to him and I turn around and see a guy I actually know from odessa. Courtney Smith. His sister is the famous and hot model Kim Smith. Anyway court and I talk and then I see another old friend of mine from odessa named jolie justice. She recently got married and my mom and dad went to the wedding she said robbie had told her all about me and sara and was very excited for us both. It was really cool because the only people that seemed to be around Sam and I who were really digging the band were all from Odessa. The show ended and I went and saw my sweetie. I want to say that BOH was really good. They sound just like the album. Its very hard to describe how awesome that band is for me. Ever since I found them BOH has lived between my ears. I don't even think I burned their cd from itunes when I bought it. Ive listened to the albums so much its strange to think about a band performing live in that sense because they have been a product of my ipod for so long. The excitement I felt when ever BOH walked out was giddyness I havent' really had since Cross Canadian Ragweeds first couple of shows. It was a short show and they played two new songs. All in all I wish I would have seen them in Austin because From what their Merch guy said it was off the chain. Thats what you get when you live in dallas I guess. We found out whats going to go down with barefoot and its going to be a rough couple of months for him but his faith and spirit are truly inspiring and I cant wait for him to be well so that I can feel good about kicking his ass in guitar hero! Have a great day.