Elation and Devastation

I was feeling guilty that I had only posted a few blogs in the past two months  (Shame on me!) until I took some time to start catching up on friend and family blogs that I read.  Turns out, I'm not the only one who lacks the writers spirit right now.  I ticked off the list:  "Whew, he hasn't written in a while, she hasn't written in a while, ok we're doing good.  I must not be the only busy person on the web right now."

Just as I'm starting to feel absolved of my guilt, remorse starts to build as I move further down the list.  Some of my friends are blogging like crazy.  My wife's cousin Allison for example, she still blogs several times a week - and I know she's busy, she has three little girls for crying out loud!  About half my list of friends, it turns out, are cranking out stories at a rate the infamous Jayson Blair would be envious of.

So to you, the dedicated bloggers, I offer my congratulations.  Someday I hope to achieve the lofty heights your example has given me.   Thanks also for giving me something to read over lunch!

It's The Brain!

In the computer lab Mrs. Juarez' afternoon kindergarten class was asked "What is this part of the computer called?"

"It's the brain!" Emma responds quickly.

"You're Right!" the lab director responds enthusiastically as Emma beams.

I was impressed my kindergartner was so quick with the answer. I was in 6th grade when I learned basic computer skills. Of course, that was 1988 and computers in the classroom were a rarity indeed.

Siting in that computer lab didn't help me feel any younger. All around me were oversize diagrams and lesson modules designed to teach the students to type. I was in Junior High when I took a type class I reminisced to myself.

What are the next generation of kindergarteners going to be learning that will make the generation gap seems like a vast chasam? I shudder to think of it.

Self Portrait

United Breaks Guitars

I immediately fell in love with this video. Subtle comedy, great songwriting, well produced - what's not to like? Especially when you're introduced to artists like Dave Carroll and the Sons of Maxwell. I didn't immediately care much about who wrote or performed the song, like many YouTube videos i took this satire of a true story and chalked it up as a good giggle. When I found myself looking the video up again a few days later (because I couldn't get the chorus out of my head) I decided I needed to learn more and followed a few links. Turns out that Sons of Maxwell es a remakable country group from Nova Scotia who had posted some video from performances on Canadian TV stations that were fascinating to see and hear. A few weeks later and I couldn't convince myself of a reason not to buy some of their music. While I'm still waiting to get my hands on albums from the whole band, the leader of the group (the aforementioned Dave Carroll) did have several selections available on iTunes [shudder] which I picked up without delay.

I thinks is amazing that I find a great new artist because a ridiculously large business ruined a family heirloom. The next time my eBay item gets lost in the mail, I'll remind myself to write a song about it.