MORMON ABSTRACTO

Another Interview with Abby

2012-01-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Q: How are things?
A: Good, with this ring that I'm sucking on. (a ring pop)

Q: What did you do last night?
A: Went to a fun place. Um, I played games and went on a ride but I don't know which ride. An animal ride and the spiderman car. Last night on the spiderman car there's a red moving thing in the car. That thing, I like that thing that's in there.

Q: What prizes did you get?
A: I got this one (showing her ring pop) if you touch it with your hand, it's all sticky.

Q: Did you call a boy this week?
A: Hunter. I called Hunter.

Q: Why did you call Hunter?
A: Because I wanted to say I'm marrying him.

Q: Did you learn any new songs this week?
A: (singing) Rain come, rain come, down down down come play and I really love you and come to my birthday and I'll ask my mom and you can ask your mom?

Q: Wow! Did you just barely make up that song?
A: Yeah.

Q: Do you know you're really good at making up songs?
A: Well, I kind of don't.

Interview with Abby: Christmas Edition

2011-12-05T21:15:00.001-07:00

Abby: Knock knock
me: Whose there?
Abby: Orange
me: Orange who?
Abby: Orange you say banana

Q: How was your Thanksgiving trip?
A: Good

Q: What did you do?
A: Play with my friends. Seth said to go downstairs because there was a bad guy there so I killed him with Ollie's gun.

Q: What else did you do?
A: Play with Brianna. Hey, I drinked my chocolate milk all gone. (Speaking to Mom) He's making letters huh? (points to the computer) That thing is making letters.

Q: What do you want for Christmas?
A: Some baby clothes and a barbie.

Q: What does Santa do?
A: (laughs) Plays with kids.

Q: What are you learning in school?
A: Sings ABC song while shaking a maraca wildly.

Q: When is Christmas?
A: In five weeks.

Q: What do we do on Christmas
A: Put up our decorations. (Sings Santa Clause is Coming to Town)

Q: What are you getting Mom for Christmas?
A: I will let her have a angel. Mommy, you're going to get an angel for Christmas.

Q: What do you want to get Dad for Christmas?
A: Uh ahh. A singing trumpet.

Q and A with Abby

2011-11-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Q: How old are you?
A: "Two. I was two and a half, and then I'm three now."

Q: What is you favorite thing to do at school?
A: "I like to play house."

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "My favorite food is fruit snacks."

Q: What did you do with daddy yesterday?
A: "I stayed with you when mommy left and we played the play dough robot game." (cranium)

Q: What is your favorite thing about church?
A: "My favorite thing likes to color at church."

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: "My best friend is Lexi."

Q: Best friend at school?
A: "McKenna"

Q: What is your favorite thing do with Mom and Dad?
A: "I... My favorite thing is doing... doing... doing... I don't know. Favorite thing, I don't know, I don't know. (singing) I don't know I don't know. Washhu Wasshu. Naaae."

Q: What is your favorite (FHE) Lesson?
A: Uh, my favorite lesson is... uh I don't know.

Q: What happens in your princess dreams?
A: (baking pretend cookies) "I need to go potty." (runs up stairs)

Q: What do you dream about last night?
A: "I had a Belle one."

Q: What did you do in your dream?
A: "I spinned with Beast."

Indie Churchy Rock?

2011-09-27T10:43:00.000-06:00

For those who don't know, I'm in charge of the youth program for the boys in our church. This constitutes boys from the ages of 12-18. When it came time for us to be in charge of the September combined activity (which includes the young women), I thought it would be fun to do something a little different. The theme of our program this year is the thirteenth article of faith which talks about seeking after good things. Two of the other leaders and I came up with an activity for the kids to do and we had three groups of kids who rotated through the different stations. I chose to write a song and have the kids add some singing and claps to round out the sound. I basically rearranged the words of the verse to fit into a song (with a little poetic licence taken of course.) All in all we had about 25 kids there that night who contributed to the song. You can listen to it here.

It's Alive!

2011-09-22T10:57:00.001-06:00

This blog has been mostly dead for a few consecutive months now, I'm sorry to say. It just seemed like I needed a big reason to blog again because it had been so long. Well big reasons have come and gone and I continued my neglect of this digital space. Life is good, and life is busy. There have been ups and downs, but mostly ups.

Lately, some people who I care about deeply are in the midst of incredibly trying times. It brings me down when I think about it, and I've had a heavy heart for a couple of weeks now. With the sadness though comes more reliance on faith and a greater desire to help and support where I can. We certainly are never helpless, never comfortless, and never without a friend.

There is incredible strength in the bonds that we share with our family and friends. Courage and hope can be drawn from the most simple of gestures and connections. I recognize the need in myself to improve in my ability and willingness to act.

I've learned that gratitude is the most effective remedy for sadness and sorrow. Everyday I'm more and more grateful for my family. Natalie is an absolute rock. The best partner I could ever wish for in this life. Abby is the most fun person I've ever met. She is so full of life and energy. She amazes and inspires me every day, and she makes me laugh constantly. From her lips have been uttered some of the most pure and sincere and beautiful prayers I've ever heard.

The Amazing Millie

2011-05-23T09:52:00.000-06:00

I've written in the past about my friends Brady and Amanda. Their daughter Millie is fighting Leukemia, and recently a complete stranger heard about Millie and offered to set up a donation website to help with her extensive medical expenses. I want to share with you all a link to the donation website as well as a thank you video that Amanda put together showing Millie's progress through the treatment, trials, and tears that this brave little soul has endured. You can read more about this amazing family on their blog.

Generation X - King Rocker

2011-04-08T15:33:00.001-06:00

This song just came on my ipod and it made me really happy. I hope you all appreciate it as much. Billy Idol should've kept this haircut. Epic.

Happy Memories

2011-03-25T12:20:00.000-06:00

Lately, it seems like there has been a lot of sad things happening to people I know and love. A large majority of these instances have been completely out of control of the people they are affecting the most. I thought it might be good to generate some discussion and sharing of happy memories. Seems how this is my idea I'll start.

Memory #1 - Last summer we attended our friends Jake and Eli's wedding reception. It was in a lush, green, secluded back yard on one of those perfect summer evenings. The light back there was incredible and Abby was having a great time dancing to the music and running in circles on the grass. We were there with some of our best friends, most of whom we hadn't seen for some time. I can't put my finger on exactly why it was so great, but I distinctly remember thinking that night that I was experiencing something very close to heaven. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

Memory #2 - This one is hard to explain, and it is not so much a solitary memory because it has happened more than once. Sometimes when I'm in a social setting, I'll catch a glance of Natalie from across the room and for a second I'm seeing her again for the first time. It is similar to times when you see pictures or video of yourself from an angle your not used to seeing. It takes a second for you to realize who you are looking at followed by a flood of thoughts. Do I really walk like that? Etc. However, when this happens with Natalie, after the recognition takes place a flood of memories of our lives together comes into my brain and it makes me happy.

Memory #3 - I remember being a very young kid, and being incredibly excited for my older brothers to come home from college. I would watch tv with the volume low so I could listen for the back door and hear the familiar voice. It always seemed like an eternity waiting for them, but they always made me feel like a million bucks when the time finally came.

Please, share some good memories, I think we could all use them.

Huntington Beach

2011-02-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

On our way to the airport after our Disneyland adventure, we stopped at Huntington Beach to play on the beach and see the ocean. It was just before dusk and the light was really amazing. I grabbed the camera and started snapping photo after photo. Abby was so mesmerized by the waves and the sea shells that she was almost completely oblivious to me. It was really fun to see her experience the ocean for the first time, and I think these photos do a pretty good job of capturing the moments.

This wave cam in a little too fast for Abby.

Seems like there should be something more significant in her hand than mud.

I love the vivid reflection in the wet sand on this one.

Love this pic of my girls.

The Magic Kingdom - Part 2

2011-02-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

A Trip to the Library

2011-02-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

The Magic Kingdom - Part 1

2011-02-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

Disneyland was amazing. Here is some photographic evidence.

Brianna (Abby's BFF all weekend) and Leslie.

Natalie somehow caught this amazing picture of us flying by on Thunder Mountain. Just don't ask her for a good carousel shot.

Tiffany, Ryan, Mr Blue Shades

How can you not love these girls?

Jasmine pinching Aladdin's hind quarters.

The Fam on Small World

Abby LOVED the carousels.

Lady in background did NOT LOVE me taking this picture.

Huntington Beach. Abby was obsessed with the sea shells.

Cousins!

2011-01-23T22:23:00.001-07:00

So far the babysitting exchange has been a lot of fun. Here is some evidence.

Dear Management of ...

2011-01-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, I wish to congratulate you on the excellent work with the remodel and opening of your new establishment. I work nearby and often noted the progress on the building, wondering what would replace Big City Soup (R.I.P.) It is obvious that a lot of care and resources went into making your business a reality. The style, cleanliness, and atmosphere are all excellent in addition to the staff being very helpful.

Now I will get to the real point of my writing. I stopped in the other day for some lunch when I saw a note on your large blue sandwich board indicating that you serve soup. Perhaps in my subconscious I was hoping for a gustatory experience akin to what I had grown accustomed to when dining with the aforementioned previous tenants. When I entered, I saw on the board that the soup of the day was "Roasted Tomato Soup." I have partaken of this type of soup in the past and thoroughly enjoy it. I was cold and hungry, and this bowl of delicious soup was going to really make my day.

I sadly must report it was easily the worst soup I've ever had. I must reiterate that I was both hungry and cold, a situation which would normally make a warm, home-made soup taste even better. I must at this point also interject that I'm really not a picky eater. This is in fact the first time I've felt the need to inform an eatery of sub-par dining experience I've had.

For the sake of future patrons I feel a duty to give some constructive criticism. The soup in question consisted almost entirely of sliced baby carrots in vegetable oil. There were some chunks of celery, the corpse of half a tomato, tasteless green "spices," and a pinch of water, but in essence it was sliced baby carrots in vegetable oil. The soup was scalding hot enough and I was hungry enough at the time of consumption that I made it through three bites before I realized what I was tasting (or not tasting as the case may be.)

This "Roasted Tomato Soup" tasted strangely to me like sliced baby carrots in vegetable oil. In an attempt to salvage the meal, I drained the oil-water mixture and placed a couple slices of carrot into my mouth. Unfortunately, they had become saturated in, you guessed it, vegetable oil.

Don't get me wrong at this point, I have nothing against either baby carrots or vegetable oil. I've enjoyed thousands of dishes over the years which incorporated one or both. In fact, I have been known to snack on raw baby carrots from time to time. It's the strange combination of these two as the primary ingredients of "Roasted Tomato Soup" which activated my gag reflexes and resulted in pouring the remainder down the drain.

You really have a good thing going. The home-made croutons were quite good. I only write this in hopes that you can find a way to improve the soup situation. As I mentioned, I work nearby and would gladly pay for delicious soup from time to time during these cold winter months. Thank you for your time and attention. I have spewed quite the dissertation.

Yours,

Jesse Crowley

This is how I dance at Home Sometimes

2011-01-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Resolution 2011

2011-01-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

Last year I wrote a short resolution on this blog. More than any other goal or resolution I've made in my life, it actually stuck with me. For the most part, I believe, I was a man of action more than a man of intentions in 2010. That's not to say there isn't room for improvement, but I think I made significant progress.

This year feels like it will be a very important one for me. I feel the same desire to be a man of action, and within that idea there are a few points of emphasis I choose to pursue.

1. Gratitude - My favorite people in this world also seem to be the most grateful. I'm guilty of often taking blessings and people around me for granted. I hope to show a great deal more gratitude in 2011, and I hope to do it in more ways than spoken words.

2. Enjoyment - Last year, during high adventure camp with the teachers and priests, one of the other leaders said "I really like camp Jesse." I knew exactly what he meant, and it really stuck with me. The nature of the camp meant that there were no real worries or responsibilities, it was pure fun all day every day. "Camp Jesse" was different from "normal Jesse" because he was allowing himself total enjoyment. I know that the circumstances at the camp are impossible to duplicate for an entire year, but the attitude I possessed during my stay could be carried with me throughout the year.

3. Balance - I think at times my drive to get things done in 2010 left too great a burden on my family. I hope to better balance my time and priorities so those who are most important in my life will always know it.

Well, there you have it, a little more wordy than last year, but I think doable.

Like Robert Goulet on my Stereo!

2010-12-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

For a while now I've been telling everyone who will listen how amazing Robert Goulet's Wonderful World of Christmas album is. I even put it in a song for heaven's sake. For those of you whose eardrums have not been tickled by this excellent music, I give you a small sampling after the break:

The video below is for those in my family who may not realize (as I had not) that Mr. Goulet recorded another Christmas album! I've got to get my hands on it!

Strung Out - Matchbook - Best post break-up song for young dudes ever?

2010-12-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

I think most people would agree that mixing all the growing pains of youth and young adulthood with romantic relationships is a recipe for some pretty strong and emotional heartache. With that in mind, I present you with the best post-break-up-song-for-young-dudes ever. This song was a favorite of mine for years, and still strikes a chord. The .mp3 version below doesn't quite do the sublimely aggressive yet melodic guitar tone justice, but you'll get the idea.

Find more artists like STRUNG OUT at Myspace Music

Matchbook
by Strung Out (lyrics by Jason Cruz)

I can see it in your eyes
I can hear it in your voice
the signs are obvious
that all we had has run its course
and I don't mind giving up the upper hand
in this little charade
cause I've spent too many nights here on the floor
waiting for something inside you to change

Don't look back in anger now is all that you can see
cause angers all I got to keep me warm when you're away
and I know that this is nothing new
but tonight it's all I know
disconnect myself from your memory
and never feel anything at all
to justify with all your words
don't mean anything to me
cause I've cut you off

So here we stand and face each other
we've got nothing to say
a flashback to another time
when silence was a welcomed friend
now I'm sorry I can never really say
all the things going on inside my head
silence is a justified expression of my war
now nothings like it was before

Don't look back in anger now is all that you can see
cause angers all I got to keep me warm when you're away
and all your words and all your actions
don't mean anything to me
cause I've cut you off

Don't look back at anger
Don't look back at anger
Don't look back at anger
It's just a memory

It's easy to forget your face
and it's easy to survive in this place
without you, without you
I just comb my hair and wash my face
keep straight ahead and keep my pace
just think about nothing, I might never be alright
well I got my friends, I got my pen
got a million distractions to keep me warm
and I know that I'll be alright, that I'll be alright

Dustin Kensrue | Sufjan Stevens

2010-12-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

These songs were a big inspiration to starting Herod the Fink last year.

Random Christmasness

2010-12-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

> This year, I've learned that if you focus on protecting your precious time, you end up with a lot of empty hours. If you try to find a way to good things and stretch yourself, time issues have a way of working themselves out.

> Natalie and I have went to Hale Center Theater's production of "A Christmas Carol" on Saturday. I had forgotten how beautiful the language is, and what a poignant message of Christ is within. It is amazing how often this classic story is redone (or butchered as the case may be) and how in almost every case Christ is removed altogether. Give me the original or give me nothing. A Muppet Christmas Carol might be my lone exception, but even that version uses lots of passages from the original text.

> I have been amazed at the response at our living room shows. It has been so much fun to share this music with so many people, and to realize that the world is full of really good souls.

> Growing up, I knew the right "Sunday school" answers as to why Christmas is special, but is has only been much more recently that it has really sunken in. The Creator of the world condescended into the humblest circumstances in order to allow his Father's most prize creation (us) to reach our full potential. He came into a world that was lost, and claimed victory for all who would follow him. I can't put it any better than Dustin Kensrue in his song "This is War."

This is War
by Dustin Kensrue

This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
Where hang dark hearts which stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.

This is war and born tonight,
The Word is flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.

This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.

We Want to Play Your Living Room

2010-11-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

So the Christmas season is officially upon us. I understand that there is a large segment of strictly "only after Thanksgiving" people, and that's okay but the fact is that the big day is just around the corner. Herod the Fink is looking to book a few more house shows this holiday season. We will come and play an acoustic set for free. All we ask for is a few friends, some egg nog or hot chocolate, and a few claps after songs. If you are curious what this show will look/sound like we've recorded some video:

We put together a list of dates that we would be available for said shows.

NOV: 22, 29, 30

DEC: 2, 6, 10, 18, 20, 21

To book a show, you can either email me directly or use the contact form on our website.

Randomizations

2010-10-20T11:19:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about doing a "life lessons from solitaire" post.
Abby makes us laugh out loud multiple times a day. I am so lucky to have the family I do.
I had a lot of fun coaching a co-ed middle school aged soccer team this fall. We did pretty well, and I gained a much greater appreciation for coaches.
Construction is driving me batty. 7800 South has been torn up since the beginning of summer. I've heard from a reliable source that the sewer pipe they just finished installing was an experimental material and it failed so they are digging it all up and replacing it. Awesome. I feel like a lab rat every time I head home. UDOT is watching to see how creative I can be when finding ~~cheese~~ home.
I'm sad that County Cup did not happen again, but if you really don't have the time and means then you just don't have it. Sorry guys.
Real Salt Lake are a really fun team to watch. Every time I leave a game, I think how incredible it is that we have a team, a stadium, and that they are both excellent.
I've had a handful of people ask, and yes, Herod the Fink is looking to play some shows in November and December. Our set will probably run from 45 minutes to an hour. We will just play acoustic so it won't be terribly loud. We are thinking "living room" type shows. Low lights, some egg nog, some fun original Christmas tunes, with some covers thrown in. Contact me if you want to set one up.

HTF Tracking Done

2010-10-18T11:20:00.001-06:00

So we wrapped up the tracking for the new Herod the Fink album this weekend. We pulled an all-nighter Friday, worked most of Saturday, and finished up the vocal tracks on Sunday evening. I had hoped to get 10 songs finished, but rather than sacrifice quality we will release 8 original songs that we are really happy with. We are shooting to have the finished albums in our hands the first week of November.

Just Because

2010-10-12T09:01:00.000-06:00

Sometimes you don't need a good reason to make an awkward dance animated gif.

Classic Classics

2010-09-30T15:30:00.000-06:00

So I want to listen to some classical at work from time to time. Any suggestions?

Getting with the times

2010-09-29T12:16:00.001-06:00

So Jason and I have once again caught the fever, and Herod the Fink is running at full steam. We have two more recording sessions then lots of mixing and mastering for what will turn out to be a 8 or 9 song album. We are getting very excited to share these songs with the world.

We have also finally constructed a website and a blog. Jason posted on the website that we hope to "tour," which of course means playing a few street corners, coffee shops, and or living rooms in the next 3 months in hopes of sharing these songs with a few people besides our nearest and dearest.

He has ordered a pretty amazing percussion instrument all the way from Australia. It is a Rockbox brand cajon hand drum and it sounds amazing. Get the bongo sounds out of your head right now, because it is not at all what it sounds like. Think rock and roll drums. This box has a snare mechanism as well as a deep "kick" drum sound. Listen to one in action here. We are going to have a lot of fun playing these songs, and I can't wait to see how full we can make our little duo sound.

Psyched Out of My Mind About

2010-09-23T09:17:00.000-06:00

I really don't get to use that phrase enough. Lately, I have been way into Jeff Buckley's cover of this Leonard Cohen song so I thought I'd share.

That's What Friends Are For

2010-09-17T09:13:00.001-06:00

My good friend and former band-mate brought to my attention the hypocrisy found in yesterday's post. I was on one hand trying to promote discussion while on the other hand I was taking jabs at a certain point of view.

I admit, that I was taken back a bit my Mr. Luhn's comment on my previous intelligent design post. It seemed weird to me that he was searching around the internet trying to find any reference to a movie that shows certain ideas are being suppressed in the scientific community. To me, his actions were only strengthening the points made in the "Expelled" movie.

Dusty, I stand corrected. I really appreciate your feedback, concern, and input. You are a good friend, and I'm glad you called me out about it. I should have held off actually publishing until I had a chance to really read through it again. I felt kind of uneasy about it all day yesterday worrying that my words would not come across as intended.

Reading back through my post, it kind of morphs from trying to promote discussion and being open minded to being argumentative and snarky. There was an attempt at humor thrown in there, but I don't think it came across as intended.

The term "believe in Science" is linked to the Nacho Libre scene on YouTube. I was trying to lighten the mood a little, but it definitely comes across as a jab. I don't know why I even write about stuff like this. I think I miss my philosophy classes.

I feel that all of these big ideas are not mutually exclusive, which is why it should make for great thought-provoking discussion. I apologize that my words were counter productive to their actual intent.

I really don't want to make this blog a place of argement. It should be a creative outlet with perhaps some thought provoking discussion here and there. It should also be funny when intended, and yesterday's attempt at humor failed because it was mixed in with an argumentative voice. I thought about going back and editing the post, but I think it is best left as a reminder to me of what this blog should not be.

Intelligent Design Part II

2010-09-16T09:35:00.001-06:00

This is really great. Thanks for the interesting feedback on my previous post. I love hearing honest and open discussion about this stuff. Even Robert Luhn from the NCSE thought it was worth his time to post a comment on my highly influential blog with a world wide readership of 10. Robert, feel free to chime in more on this topic, I'm interested in what you personally have to say more than what the anti-Ben Stein documentary has to say.

Yeah, I guess my issue with it is that there seems to be all this heated opposition to the possibility that there was a designer to account for the design. Is it really so bad to say, "we don't have all of the answers. Something like this is a possibility."

Robert Luhn mentioned in his comment that "While there are some scientists who simply dismiss ID out of hand, there are many many many more scientists who can tell you precisely why creationism/ID don't hold water." Wow, THREE "many's," Robert must really really really believe in science. These things happened millions of years ago, can you really prove to me that there is no POSSIBILITY of a creator/designer? Lawyers couldn't prove to a jury that O.J. Simpson killed his wife, despite the fact that everybody on Earth was 99% sure he did.

It seems that either way it comes down to faith. On one side, you have faith that a creator, designer, or even "alien" if you want to call it that is responsible for known creation. On the other side, you have faith that known creation came about completely spontaneously.

You really can't prove either. One side certainly seems more logical to me. I could read a million books about how spontaneous creation occurred would not be convinced because, according to my logic, known creation would not currently function according to laws that were not followed during its inception.

As in all things in life, it is up to us what we put our faith in. We should think, study, discuss, form opinions, and make judgments for ourselves independently. We shouldn't be afraid to state our opinions. We also shouldn't repress other people's opinions.

Is It Really Too Much to Ask?

2010-09-01T12:01:00.000-06:00

All we want to do is make a classic, timeless holiday album. How hard could it be? I think I'm starting to side with the majority who think we're crazy for making such an attempt. There's a good chance it will just fall on it's face, but we'll be sure to make it fall with grace. Ooo, I like it. I actually might use that line in a song. Anyway, the songs are progressing and I hope in the end they come across sincerely.

I thought it might be interesting to attach the song notes Jason and I put together for our next session. I don't think it gives too much away.

Back to 337 - Done.

Desperate Husbands - Done.

On This Silent Night - so close.

Guitar seems a bit out of tune....?
Just a thought... On the "silent night" part of 2nd verse, we could add a chorus of people singing "silent night" far in the background...? Same thing for "On this silent night"... Not 100% sure if I wanna do that, but I just thought it could sound alright. Maybe not.

Christmas is Coming - can't wait to see how our last session improvements have gone. Almost done.

We really need some strings on this one, too. For some reason it sounds hollow in comparison to the others.

Might need a bit of mixing work, too. End guitars aren't very full.

Lift Me Up - can't wait to hear the clapping we added.

Might be interesting to add reverb to drums.... (Like tons) Lots of tail.

This needs a choir. End of story. We've got to get a choir or choir effect on this... The fast parts would jump right out of the speakers with that.

Needs tambourine. Lots of it.
Redo lead vocal

Have I done Any Good? (I forgot about this one... I love it!)

Redo lead vocal track (clicking, and out of tune)
perhaps some acoustic guitar at beginning and end.
Add "meatier" electric guitar as song builds to the climax.

*LOVE* the middle part of this song...

background "Have I Done Any Good" vocals need to be a bit more back... Or something.. Got to hear the main vocals more on that part.

Not crazy about the arrangement in general. Might not need any work, but we might want to think about what else we could do on the arrangement for this one.

Jimmy and Robert - just started.

Needs 2nd and 3rd verse.
Gang vocals in the chorus.
Electric Guitar.
Bass.
Claps
Drums

Christmas in the UK - Haven't started yet.

Piano
Acoustic
Electric
Bass
Drums
Claps
Big BG vocals.

Songs On the Bubble (these may or may not be recorded due to time restraints and other considerations)

The Dawn Will Come
For Unto Us a Child is Born (Handel Cover)
Annapolis (Raise Your Glass)

Intelligent Design

2010-08-25T14:56:00.001-06:00

I watched an interesting documentary last night called Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. It tackles a lot of the things that really bother me when it comes to the intelligent design debate. One of the most interesting parts of the film is the interview above featuring Dawkins, a leading evolutionary biologist and Ben Stein.

Something else that really struck me is the animosity that some scholars and scientists have towards the idea of intelligent design. They don't actually attack the actual idea that someone or something put all of this into motion. The don't even argue against it, they just repeatedly call it "idiotic" or "ignorant."

I am not in any way a scientist, but this fact does not keep me from thinking or forming my own opion. In my limited experience, one thing has always been true: that nothing comes from nothing. The very fact that we exist stems from two basic ideas. Either something put everything in motion or nothing put nothing in motion and it happened anyway. I'll leave that argument up to logic.

I couldn't help but be reminded of times on my mission when I defended the doctrines and beliefs of the LDS church. Sometimes the more reasonable and rational my answers were, the more unreasonable and irrational the responses became. The behavior in my estimation comes from insecurity. If you are secure in your thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and endeavors, you will welcome discussion, debate, and exploration of other ideas, thoughts and beliefs.

I like to think. I like to think about big ideas. I don't like being called names for thinking something different than the current trend. I'm not trying to bash Darwin. I think it's time to start thinking about him like we have other brilliant scientific minds, that he made valuable contributions that helped us gain a better understanding of the bigger picture. The fact that we've expanded on, further developed, and sometimes cast doubt on or disproved theories of scientists such as such as Galileo, Newton, and Einstien does not in anyway diminish their legacy or value.

Still Life Flags

2010-08-16T21:49:00.000-06:00

We had a military-themed family reunion on Natalie's side in July. To raise money for the campsite fees, there is a craft fair among other things. I contributed this patriotic still life.

Abby 2.0 + Blog Theory

2010-08-16T21:36:00.000-06:00

I received a gentle reminder today from mi amigo Jeremy that I hadn't blogged in a long time. I had planned on posting this video I made for Abby's 2nd birthday, and I decided now would be a good time.

Lately, I just get the feeling that blogs for a lot of people are "so last year." Facebook seems to have overtaken blogging lately. I'm not complaining, I enjoy Facebook. It is an interesting way to keep tabs on friends and acquaintances from pretty much any period of life you could imagine. It just seems to be a little more superficial. Blogging has a tendency to draw a little more depth from the poster and the reader/commenter.

For me, blogging has become a bit of a conundrum. I ~~like~~ love being creative. There are no less than 10 creative activities on my mental wish list at any one time, and while I enjoy writing it doesn't come as naturally as some other things.

In my mind, writing takes away from music/painting time. I'm sure that is not exactly the case. My blog can be a means of sharing such creative activities. Rather than hindering them, it could be an added motivation to complete said projects. In summation, I will attempt to blog meaningfully more often.

Holiday Inspiration...

2010-07-12T10:28:00.000-06:00

It's tough to write holiday lyrics in July I am finding. That's where you my beloved family and friends come in. I need some lyrics inspiration. Please post a favorite Christmas story or tradition in the comments. I will give you a digital hug if you do.

BIG BRANDS

2010-06-17T12:07:00.000-06:00

With all the upheaval in college sports conferences this week, I've come to further realizations of the awful branding involved here.
"We need a name for our conference, and we want it to sound important."
"I've got it, THE BIG CONFERENCE!"
"Oooooh, I love it, but we need to differentiate ourselves from the 9 other conferences also using BIG in their names."
"Oh, oh, I've got it, we add a '12' for the twelve teams in our conference."
"That's why we pay you the big bucks, Simmons you are a genius."
"Excuse me, but don't schools sometimes switch conferences, thus throwing off our numbers and brand."
"Switch from the BIG 12 CONFERENCE, ha! Simmons, fire that intern."

That's right, from what I understand, the BIG 12 now has 10 schools and the BIG 10 now has 12 schools. I propose a straight logo swap between the two parties involved.

Notice how the Big Ten handled the fact that they've had eleven schools for the last few years. It's like the visual puzzle with the old lady's face or the young lady in a fancy dress. Depending on whether you are a traditionalist or a stickler on facts, you will see what you want. Makes me wonder if the big twelve will drop the two II's from the Roman backround of their mark.

Incidentally, I'm thinking of starting a college conference called the BIGGEST INFINITY CONFERENCE.

In 24 Hours

2010-06-11T13:16:00.000-06:00

I will be in the midst of watching the US vs. England. I'm not really excited. Not at all.

Song for Millie

2010-05-27T16:28:00.000-06:00

Brady is a good friend who I have known since my high school days when we thought we we're 80's skaters (it was the late 1990's). Anyway, he and his lovely wife Amanda have a beautiful young daughter named Millie who is currently battling leukemia. I had been wanting to do something special for their family, and had toyed with the idea of recording a song for her. A few weeks ago, when Amanda posted this request for letters and well wishes, I knew I needed to act. I contacted Amanda for some inspiration for lyrics and sat down with a couple of rough ideas in my head. It probably sounds cliche to say that the words and music poured out of me, but that's really how it felt. I tried to think of the message I would want Abby to hear if she were in the same situation. It was a truly unique and humbling experience. I recorded it at my house with minimal equipment and some great help with back up vocals and claps from Natalie. You can listen to the song here. (Lyrics after the break.)

MILLIE

Close your eyes, think of what you'll be
And everywhere you'll go and what you'll see.
A cowgirl on the range, or an astronaut in space,
Or a mommy with a babe, or all of these.

Millie Millie no matter what you do
We'll be right by your side
To share it all with you.
Millie Millie look around you'll see
Nothing but faith and hope from friends and family.
You're gonna fight fight fight 'till the sun goes down
Fight fight fight for the whole year round
You're gone smile and hope and believe.

What is red if we have no green?
The blue without the orange means nothing.
The shadows violet haze
Cast from the burning golden rays.
How can you pick a favorite one
From all you've seen?

Millie Millie you'll always have a friend
Someone to pick you up and dust you off again.
Millie Millie look around you'll see
Nothing but faith and hope from friends and family.

(Chorus)

Tilt your head, look up to the sky
And in the starry night you'll see a satellite.
And you can touch it with your eyes,
And you can wish inside your heart,
And it will be your shooting star every night.

__________

Trinidad and Tobago Take City Cup 2010

2010-05-23T17:41:00.001-06:00

Another City Cup has come and gone, and everyone at this house is completely exhausted. It was so great to see so many good friends in one place. Unfortunately, I was constantly running (literally) to one place or another so my conversations tended to be very brief.

This year The champion came from the 8th seed of the knockout stages. Brothers Garrett and Grant Davis, and Jeff Petty formed the red clad Trinidad and Tobago. Like Italy in the 2006 Wold Cup, they seemed to find better and better form as the tournament progressed.

Having lost their first two games, they were not expected to advance past the first knockout game vs. the heavily favored #1 seed Greenland United who were led by the goal scoring wizard Scott Riddle. T & T shocked everyone, dominating the game from the opening whistle. They powered through a tough fought semi-final match verses the talented (and good looking) Amish Country Football Club. In the final, they faced The All Blacks who had advanced thanks to a controversial but correct (sorry Chad, John, and Jayden) decision on the game winning goal.

The final was, as always, a contest of steely nerves, deadly finishing, and sheer determination. The All Blacks went ahead half way through the first half on a nice goal from most improved player Brad Knickerbocker. T & T remained calm and composed as they probed The All Blacks for an opening. The equalizing goal eventually came for Trinidad halfway through the second half on a chance finished by leading scorer and City Cup MVP, Grant Davis. The game winner came seconds later from Jeff Petty as he calmly slotted home a first time shot on a two on one counter attack. The end came all too soon for the black team as they were unable to create any further scoring threats.

It was a fun and memorable tournament, thank you to all who attended and participated.

Old School Crew

2010-05-19T15:24:00.003-06:00

Today, I created a new blog header for postfontaine. I think my favorite is the Imogen Heap guy. I would love to see a tough guy in a denim jacket sporting a giant Imogen Heap patch.

The Cup

2010-05-17T18:46:00.001-06:00

Let the trash talking begin...

Good Ol' Denim Jacket

2010-05-11T15:03:00.000-06:00

Just Rolling With It

2010-05-08T23:50:00.001-06:00

As I was perusing the Mother's Day section in the card aisle at Macey's tonight (only the best for my wife and my mom) I was once again amused by cheesy aesthetic of every Mother's Day card on display. It was as if each design had been through several rounds of modification to ensure it had obtained a sufficient cheese level. I decided in this special holiday post, I would just roll with the established aesthetic. With no further adieu, I give you a creative writing project (poem?) where each line begins with the letters of my wife's name spelled from top to bottom.

N is for neat because you are in every sense of the word.
A is for accomplish because you always finish what you start.
T is for temper, because I know you must have one. I just haven't seen it yet.
A is for I already told you what "a" stands for and I don't want to be redundant.
L is for laughter because love is a given.
I is for me because you take care of this being in every person, tense, or application.
E is for everything else I ever have or ever will thank you for (which is a lot.)

A note to the reader: In order for this to be a true Mother's Day post, I must ensure that this selection meets the required cheese standards. Please inform me if I need to ramp up the cheesy goodness to KRAFT macaroni levels.

Stuff I Admire About Dad

2010-04-16T15:24:00.001-06:00

I have to think hard to remember a time I heard him complain about anything.
When he had the chance to move to Samoa, he took it. (Despite having a very young family of five.)
He made sure we had a boat so we could have something we could do together as a family.
He can quote large portions of Joseph Smith history and certain sections of D&C.
He is a walking encyclopedia with extensive sections in (transmissions, cars, gospel, church history, general wisdom, morals, family management.)
He followed the personal revelation that he should serve a mission despite not being an active member of the church in his youth.
He was a powerful, effective, compassionate, and forward-thinking missionary.
No matter how big or small, he has always risen to the occasion and magnified his church calling.
He is a great leader.
He grew up in Southern California in the 1950's. (Okay, maybe this one is more envy than admire.)
He is his kids and grand kids' biggest fan.
He is amazing with Abby, it is so fun to watch them interact.
He always makes a big deal out of his kids' birthdays.
I've learned from experience that he will always be MUCH stronger than I am.
He always has time to help, or listen, or just relax together.

Happy Birthday Dad! You are the best.

Somebody is Excited for the Home Opener

2010-04-10T10:54:00.002-06:00

used tv's

2010-03-31T12:44:00.000-06:00

Diva

2010-03-19T09:56:00.002-06:00

We were treated to a lovely rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" this morning, sung by Abby. Apparently she learned it at Blanca's house because we haven't taught it to her. The only bad part she will probably be too shy to perform it to anyone besides Natalie and me, so you'll just have to take our word for it. It is pretty amazing.

Cash and Rubin

2010-03-08T15:25:00.002-07:00

I came across the last batch of Johnny Cash songs produced by Rick Rubin here. I'm only 3 songs into it, but I'm already blown away. The fact that the songs on this release generally deal with death is made even more poingnant by how close Cash was to the end of his life when he recorded them.

3 Games That Changed My Life

2010-03-02T21:26:00.003-07:00

The votes came in, and this was the clear winner. As most of you know, I have loved soccer since I was quite young. This love reached new levels as a result of watching 3 soccer matches in my life.

Preface: Soccer has had its ups and downs through the years and I was born during a down time. The US had not been to a world cup in decades. The top level soccer league (NASL) had just folded, and generally soccer was ignored in this country as a serious sport. It was something for boys to play until they were old enough to wear tights, protective pads, and a helmet so they could play throwball. Soccer coverage was non-existant, but I was able to get a pretty decent rundown on World Cup and English Football history through VHS cassettes we ordered from a catalog. I saw Pele score two goals in the 1958 World Cup Final as a 17 year old. I saw Maradona dribble through the essentially entire English team and score probably the greatest goal of all time in a 1986 World Cup semi-final. I saw the brilliant George Best in his greatest moments for Manchester United in the 1960's.

GAME 1. USA vs. GERMANY (US Cup - June 6, 1993) I happened upon this game while it was in progress with the US losing 1-0 in the first half. I was blown away first of all that soccer was on national TV. I had never seen that before, and it was incredible to me. The USA had a team, and we were playing against a country with the second richest soccer history (next to Brazil.) The Germans clearly had more talent, but the US team was relentless and opportunistic. They pulled the game level on a nice sequence before seeing the Germans pull ahead 4-3 on the strength of a hat-trick from Riedle. The US clawed their way back into the match with goals from the speedy Ernie Stewart and the aged Thomas Dooley. They actually made quite a game of it. I came away a proud fan of the US Men's National Team. (The highlights are on youtube here.)

GAME 2. MANCHESTER UNITED vs. BARCELONA (Champions League - October 19, 1994) I still remember moments from this game nearly 15 years after watching it. My brother James borrowed a tape of this match from his best friend Chad, and we watched it together. The atmosphere and pace of the game were beyond what I had ever seen (including World Cup matches). I became an instant fan of Manchester United and I was mesmerized by their stadium, Old Trafford. The game featured two unbelievably talented sides. Romario (of Brazil) and Stoitchkov (of Bulgaria) had been stars in the 1994 World Cup. They led the attack for Barcelona and proved to be a handful for United. The Red Devils on the other hand had great players, but were very much a team. They worked extremely hard on and off the ball and were unselfish and creative. The roller coaster of a game ended in a hard fought and well desered 2-2 draw with the equalizer coming from the heel of the supremely talented United winger, Lee Sharpe. (See the moment of utter brilliance here.)

GAME 3 REAL SALT LAKE vs COLORADO RAPIDS (MLS - April 2005) Sure, the season may have been a bit of a disaster from a competitive standpoint, but the first home game in franchise history was truly magical. Seeing thousands upon thousands of people decked out in red RSL gear with faces painted, flags, drums, and the like. What's more, James had organized a huge group of friends and family to all buy tickets together. It was amazing to realize how many people in Utah share my passion for the game. I will never forget seeing Brian Dunseth dive and head home the winner. The place went crazy and I think I started dancing uncontrollably. (You can see the goal in this highlights video. It is the second goal on the video and it also shows the great crowd on hand that day. It still gives me chills to watch.

"Change my life" may seem to be a bit of an overstatement, but I can honestly say that these three matches have left a lasting impression on me. The ups and downs of being a fan are pretty incredible. It's fun to see an organization push for excellence and respect and in some cases perfection. Manchester United's unbelievable treble in 1999 (EPL, Champions League, and FA Cup Champions), USA's incredible run in the 2002 World Cup (though I experienced it in 2003 when I returned from my mission), and RSL's seemingly impossible capture of the 2009 MLS Cup (in person) were made sweet in contrast to the disappointments I had experienced through the years with these teams.

Posers

2010-02-25T08:04:00.001-07:00

(This doesn't count as my next post, just my next picture.)

You Decide

2010-02-24T12:41:00.002-07:00

So it has been months since I've really written anything interesting, so I thought I would give you my faithful readers a chance to choose the next post topic.

"3 Games That Changed My Life"

OR

"Why Music? Why Christmas?"

Let me know in the comments which blog you would like me to write next. Hopefully this little experiment will inspire me to start writing a little more consistently.

Track of the Day

2010-02-18T11:32:00.003-07:00

So we posted our latest Herod the Fink track to an online review site, and we were awarded with the track of the day today. I don't really know what it means other than the track being featured on the rock/pop page. It is fun to get some outside feedback though.

Old Friend

2010-02-17T15:16:00.001-07:00

Listening to a favorite album from my high school years. Man, it feels like I'm catching up with an old friend.

At the Movies

2010-02-08T14:02:00.001-07:00

Nerdiest Band Photo Ever

2010-02-04T21:32:00.003-07:00

We only got one photo of our performance at the Herod the Fink CD release party in December, and I realized we had captured the nerdiest band photo ever taken. Keep in mind, it was also a Christmas sweater party before you judge us too harshly.

Facts Humans Love to Divulge

2010-02-02T12:03:00.003-07:00

This is more of an observation than anything. Certain facts (I assume they are facts because they have been divulged so much to me) just seem to be really popular to share, and I wonder if I'm alone in this line of thought. My prime example is the fact that "a dogs mouth is actually cleaner than a humans. In fact if you get a cut, you should have a dog lick it off." I have heard one or both of these companion statements somewhere in the neighborhood of 143 times.

Yesterday, a co-worker informed me about a friend of hers who tried to stop a couple of dogs from fighting and received a minor bite from one of them on his thumb. The bite became infected and he ended up need to have a portion of his thumb amputated! That seemed to contradict the clean mouth theory I had heard so often.

Anyhow, my point in this post was to discover other facts (or "facts" as the case may be) that you've noticed people around you including perfect strangers are willing to share. In fact, did you know that (insert number between 1 and 99) percent of statistics are made up?

Really Growing Up

2010-01-27T22:24:00.003-07:00

I swear she looks older every day when I get home from work. It's kind of scary how fast it's happening.

MLS CUP 2009

2010-01-27T21:29:00.003-07:00

At Pioneer Square before the march to the match.

Oh heck yes.

Die hard fans / friends.

Brothers who are really happy.

This doesn't really do the march justice. It was amazing.

Sharing pregame festivities with Coach Kreis at Pikes Market prior to the match. If you notice, I'm telling Kries to have Robbie Russell kick 7th if it goes to penalties. I don't really want to take all the credit here, but I'd like to think I contributed to the victory.

The Kid Cracks us Up

2010-01-25T16:15:00.004-07:00

I realize the lack of Abby posts over the last few months. I apologize. She is growing up so fast, and I don't have time to fully document at the moment. I do have time to briefly address her fun personality. She makes us laugh out loud every day without exception. Here are some examples.

1. She is very cute when she is looking for something. When she tries to find something on the floor, she will bend over so far that the top of her head is resting on the ground as she searches. Sometimes, by looking between her legs, she will then notice us on the other side of the room and chuckle to herself.

2. Natalie just bought a jump rope, and Abby has decided it is her microphone. She drags it around with her with the handle to her mouth and the cable dragging behind, "shuush, shuu, shuush, shush..."

3. She loves when we bless the food (and makes sure we do it even at restaurants.) Sometimes she will whisper some syllables. She loves the ending the most. She used to say "menmen" or something like it, but now "done" is the preferred ending word.

4. She helps conduct the music at church. She is very serious and deliberate in her motions.

5. She can already carry a tune. She has the ability to match a note we are singing, and sometimes even mimic a string of notes. I am a proud papa for sure.

I'm Just Going to Say It...

2010-01-22T11:37:00.002-07:00

Scouts is so weird! Example: If you're at a scout meeting and they tell you there's a "Cracker Barrel in the multipurpose room," it means there's doughnuts or some other type of refreshments in that room. Why wouldn't you just say that?

Desperate Husbands Chorus

2010-01-21T14:01:00.002-07:00

I'm writing a song for next year's Christmas album called Desperate Husbands Chorus. It is about last minute gift shopping for your spouse. Should be good times.

Stonehenge Revealed

2010-01-14T10:22:00.001-07:00

Resolution

2010-01-11T09:19:00.003-07:00

I'm not going to make a resolution to blog a certain amount per week or month. It has been a while, and I haven't really written much of interest for a couple of months. I haven't lost interest in blogging, I've just been more interested in getting other things done. My creative endeavor time recently has been dominated by making Christmas music, painting, freelance work, and cover band stuff. I do like the idea of being a guy who gets things done, and hopefully soon I can balance everything out to the point that I can get back to blogging a bit more consistently. After all, it is in fact another thing that I can "get done." My resolution for 2010 is simple: be a man of action, not a man of intentions.

What to do?

2009-12-28T13:01:00.002-07:00

You're freezing at work. You've just cooked a Marie Calendar's pot pie for 5 min 39 seconds in the ole zapper. You're enjoying this warm meal, especially the golden brown, flaky crust. 60% through, you chomp down on a carrot slice that is still quite cold in the center. What to do? The microwave is up stairs. You've been up and down the stairs at least 10 times today because your space heater keeps tripping the breaker. Power through it buddy, power through.

HTF - Available for Purchase

2009-12-22T13:56:00.002-07:00

I debated back and forth whether it was worth it at this stage of the game. I finally just bit the bullet and put it out there. You can purchase downloads of the songs online at cdbaby.com just in time for the holiday season.

Herod the Fink

2009-12-14T13:33:00.003-07:00

Jason and I now have tangible, professionally printed CD's in our hands. It has been so much fun to pull this project together. Our only regret is that we didn't start sooner. I was hoping to build a website, but haven't had time yet. I have built a myspace page where you can listen to some of the songs online. There's a video of Jason laying downthe drum track to "I'm Trying" which is pretty fun to watch. Check it out here. If you are interested in obtaining a CD, let me know via email and we can work something out.

We are already talking about next year's Christmas album. We agree that it would be fun to have a general theme running through all the songs. At this point we are very open to suggestions, so if you have some holiday inspiration or themes share them in the comments. Yes, James, we do want to make "Para Bilar on Christmas" a reality, we just ran out of time this year.

Car Questions?

2009-12-10T11:05:00.003-07:00

For those of you who have known me for a while, you know that my Dad is a mechanical genius, car wizard, and owns Transmission Exchange. I've been working on a website for his company and I had an idea to tie in an interactive blog. The idea is that you leave a specific car related question as a comment on the blog, and he will quickly post an answer for you. We will post the questions and answers, and over time the blog could become a nice little reference especially for people who are afraid to call an talk to a mechanic over the phone. It could end up being something like the radio program "Car Talk," but on the interweb and without as many zingers. It will be a low pressure way for people to get excellent advice and answers from one of the truly stand up guys in the business.

If you are interested in helping get this idea off the ground, visit the blog here and ask a question or two.

Some of Abby's Latest Words

2009-12-08T16:10:00.003-07:00

Abby has been saying a few words for a while, but lately her vocabulary and speech are developing very quickly. Here are a few words and phrases we have heard quite clearly from her.

What is this? (has ss his)
Thank You (shan oou)
Amen (men men)
Milk (me-ill)
Duck
Socks (ssokss)
Shoe

There's a few more that I can't think of right now. The point is, she is growing up so quickly it's kind of frightening.

Worth Checking Out

2009-12-03T09:31:00.002-07:00

I came across this blog today and I had to share it. I've only ready two entries so far, but they were both fantastic. Apparently they dig up old letters from interesting people and situations. They post scanned originals along side the transcription. The first I read was from a 20 year old David Bowie responding to his first fan letter from America (a 14 year old girl from New Mexico). Read it here. The second is a letter from Kurt Vonnegut to his family after he was freed as a prisoner of war in WWII. If you've read his novel Slaughterhouse Five, you will be amazed at how much personal experience was poured into the book. Read the letter here.

Why Do I Care So Much?

2009-11-25T09:24:00.006-07:00

photo by RSL BOZ

"Why do I care so much?" My buddy Scott asked this question a couple of weeks ago when a group of us were gathered together to watch the MLS Easter Conference Championship match between Real Salt Lake (RSL) and the Chicago Fire. The match went 120 minutes with no score, but it was anything from boring as both teams created multiple chances only to be denied by stellar goalkeeping from both sides. Overtime had just wrapped up, and we were headed for a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner. Scott's question was so perfect for the moment. Our nerves were shot, and now the game would be decided in a cruel pressure cooker that is a shootout. Why do we care? We don't know the players. We are adults with adult responsibilities and families. We shouldn't care this much about a game, right?

I don't know the answer but I think that it has to do something with this: There is something pure and intangible in sports. There is something truly inspiring about watching individuals accomplish together something that would be impossible alone. While we don't know the players personally, we as fans have come to know in great detail their individual strengths and weaknesses on the field. We have come to know something of their character by the way they conduct themselves and by the way they cope with set backs and adversity. There are a plethora of sports cliches, but there really is something special about seeing a player sacrifice his ego for the good of the team.

As we watched Ned Grabavoy convert the decisive penalty in Chigago to send RSL to the MLS Cup Final in Seattle, I couldn't help but think about the strength of his mentality. He had lost his starting position a couple months ago due to two successive sub par performances and had seen little playing time since. I've been there as a youth player, and I'm sure even at the professional level it is not easy to deal with. Yet when he was called on by his coach to step on the field and make the difference, he did it.

We made plans and took the long drive up to Seattle for the final. The atmosphere was electric, and the game was incredible. Once again RSL's depth and mental fortitude would be tested as All Star play-maker Javi Morales went down with an injury 15 minutes into the match and All Star midfielder Will Johnson had to be subbed off at half after being sick all night with the flu. Clint Mathis and Ned Grabavoy stepped in and made the difference in the match. They provided a calming influence on the pitch that had been lacking. They controlled possession, made timely tackles, and combined with the forwards to create several dangerous chances. They raised the level of play of the entire midfield from slightly below average before they entered the match to absolutely stellar upon their arrival.

Regulation ended in a 1-1 draw and overtime carried the same score to the end. We once again faced the daunting penalty shootout. Los Angeles was lucky to be there as RSL had pressed hard for the winner dominating play throughout the second half and overtime. I was doubtful because in my experience the team who is holding on for dear life trying to salvage the tie and force a shootout (in this case Los Angeles) usually ends up winning.

So why do I care so much? Because every player on the team has a story like Ned's. Because caring makes life exciting. Because of the moment of utter exhilaration that comes when Robbie Russell slots home the winning penalty to give your team the championship. Because it's fun to hug your friends and high five perfect strangers.

Sneak Peek - It's Christmas Again

2009-11-20T11:03:00.006-07:00

I've been posting track listings and writing a little about the songs. So far, there hasn't been a whole lot to get excited about except claims I've made that the production sounds great.

We have one song completely finished and mastered. I thought I'd share it now as a sneak peak of what you can expect from this Christmas EP project. The song is about the two sides of Christmas - the stress, worries, and hectic schedule, and the excitement, joy, and anticipation. Hope you like it. Listen to it here.

*update* I originally posted a very rough version of I've got a friend by accident. The correction is made and you can follow the link to listen to the final version of It's Christmas Again.

Updated Tracklisting

2009-11-16T12:42:00.002-07:00

Herod the Fink's self titled Christmas EP is heading towards completion and things are starting to solidify. There may be an additional song on the final version, but this is how it stands now.

01. It's Christmas Again (original)
02. The First Noel
03. What Child is This?
04. By Night (original)
05. I've Got a Friend (original)

Studio Update

2009-11-11T10:15:00.002-07:00

Day one of Herod the Fink recording couldn't have gone better. We got tracks laid down for 5 songs. The two originals are almost complete. A little tinkering and some re-recording of some vocals and they should be good to go. Jason has them sounding incredible. I've never heard my own voice (or any of my playing) in such incredible clarity, it left me feeling really exposed especially at first.

Halloween 09

2009-11-05T23:20:00.003-07:00

At the Park, Grandmas

2009-11-05T23:19:00.002-07:00

Mt. Timpanogos with the Scouts

2009-11-05T23:11:00.003-07:00

We were a little unprepared for the snow, hence the hoodies rather than coats. This was at the beginning of October. We made it to the top, but did not summit due to cloud cover and windy, icy conditions.

Herod the Fink

2009-11-03T10:25:00.005-07:00

I want to have a name for this Christmas project, and I think I have it - Herod the Fink. The inspiration comes from some of my oldest, fondest Christmas memories.

We used to go as a family up the street to Brad and LaRue's (family friends / fellow 5th ward members) for Christmas Eve. We would read the Christmas story and consume delicious holiday treats. Brad had created a miniature city of Bethlehem complete with the manger scene, sheep, shepherds, pigs, chickens, palm trees, peasants, a synagoge with hebrew scriptures, etc. It is a hand-made labor of love. There are lots of hidden gems in the scene including references to many of the Savior's parables. Brad's sense of humor was also evident in various parts, most notably in some scratched graffiti on one of the city walls which read "Herod is a Fink."

Preliminary Tracklisting

2009-11-02T13:50:00.002-07:00

01. By Night (original)
02. What Child is This?
03. The First Noel
04. Away in a Manger
05. It's Christmas Again (original)
06. Silent Night

This is far from set in stone, but as of right now these are the songs we plan to record starting on Saturday.

Now That You're Settled

2009-10-28T09:50:00.003-06:00

My parents recently moved homes after a 30 year stay at the Sandy home I grew up in. Needless to say it was a long and labor intensive process for all involved, but they ended up with a perfect house with the space they need in order to facilitate family gatherings. (There are eight of us kids, all married with children.) It has been fun to see their excitement at their new digs, and to spend time with them there.

After a couple of weeks of settling in and unpacking, there was an announcement made in my parents ward that the missionaries in the area need a home to stay in. They were told that it has been requested that the missionaries stay in a member's home. To their everlasting credit, my parents decided that their new home fit the requirements that the mission had detailed and offered their home to the missionaries.

I'm not sure what makes a rational couple invite two 19-21 year old boys into their basement just weeks after purchasing and settling into their new home. I'm left to question their sanity, but I'm also humbled by their dedication to the gospel and the church.

Movie Club - Funny Scene

2009-10-20T16:00:00.002-06:00

It doesn't matter how many times I see this scene (or movie), I still laugh out loud. What are your favorite scenes? Post yours on your blog and put a link in the comments. Ready go.

Favorite Christmas Songs

2009-10-16T11:25:00.003-06:00

It might seem a bit early, but I'm already starting to think about Christmas music. (I've started talking to a friend about maybe recording some songs for friends and family this year.) I figured I'd open it up to you guys as to what your favorite Christmas songs are. I can't make any promises, but I'm hoping that there is some overlap with what I've been thinking as well as some fresh ideas.

Everything Right Now

2009-10-09T16:36:00.003-06:00

I posted this comment on RSL's blog today. It took me a few minutes to write, so I thought I'd put it up here too.

There is a really strange attitude in American soccer fans and RSL fans especially. No matter what happens, there is something to complain about. I think it comes down to what has become a very American attitude - wanting everything right now, without paying the price.

The same people who sell out huge football stadiums all across the U.S. for meaningless pre-season friendlies of European super clubs turn their backs on their home town MLS clubs. They want to have the quality of top European teams, but don't want to do anything to support the domestic league. The English top flight was pretty average in the world for a lot of years. It has risen to the top because of their growing consistent, passionate fan bases who sell out their games, buy tons of merch, and consume lots of beer and chips. The teams have become woven into the fabric of their communities and culture. This takes time.

MLS is set up to be a very even league. Only 2 or 3 teams per year ever really separate themselves from the pack. Most of us thought RSL would be one of those teams this year, and it didn't happen. It's a bummer, but being bitter about it gets to be annoying. For the fans who sit behind me at every game, RSL has never committed a foul. Conversely, RSL is fouled every time they lose the ball. Every referee is out to get RSL. Here's my theory: soccer is a hard process. It is hard to score. It is hard to win. It is hard to perform consistently over an entire season. That is what makes it great.

I don't think that every fan should be an eternal optimist, but calling for the coach or GM's head after every loss or tie gets pretty old. I suffered with all of you through Ellinger's tenure, hoping each game that we could get lucky and score a goal and win a game every once in a while. I had a pretty good idea that we weren't going to do much with Ellinger at the helm, but I still lent my support to the team.

Through it all, I feel like I've matured a bit as a fan. I care a lot about the team, but I've learned to take it for what it ultimately is: entertainment. Home games when the team is clicking and the crowd is into it are great theater and away games are gripping reality tv.

Impromptu Photoshoot at Dusk

2009-10-06T21:34:00.004-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I was outside with Abby and Natalie. The light was so perfect and they looked so cute, I grabbed the camera and started snapping away. These were my 3 favorite.

Weekend

2009-10-05T12:05:00.002-06:00

Bueno: Driving through the gorgeous canyon to Logan.
Bueno: Playing a really fun show in Logan Friday night.
Bueno: Finally getting Mony Mony right, and the crowd dancing like crazy.
Bueno: Seeing good friends again. Seeing good friends' kids. Staying with good friends.
Bueno: Breakfast at Angies (where the locals eat) with good friends.
No es Bueno: Accidentally ordering my eggs 'sunny side up.'
No es Bueno: Natalie following suit and accidentally ordering her eggs the same way.
No es Bueno: Sunny side up sounds fun, but can be dangerous.
Bueno: conference.
No es Bueno: stomach ache.
No es Bueno: getting worse.
No es Bueno: Driving home with stomach ache.
No es Bueno: Nausea. Pulling off freeway in Kaysville. Dryheaves.
No es Bueno: Missing Priesthood session with Dad and brothers.
No es Bueno: Throwing up in front of wife, brothers, and nephew.
No es Bueno: Missing post preisthood Wii tennis tournament with Dad and brothers.
Bueno: Sunday conference, no church, chance to recover.

I'll Never Understand

2009-09-29T09:15:00.003-06:00

why some ladies feel it necessary to declare to the world their self centered or mean spirited nature via license plate holders.

Things That Make Me Feel Manly

2009-09-25T09:27:00.002-06:00

Grilling meat
Chopping wood
Fixing the vacuum cleaner
Making loud rock and roll music
Putting in a strong tackle
Bleeding from soccer wounds
P.E.C. Meeting
Praying with the family
Bearing testimony
Doing yard work
Lopping off tree limbs
Moving heavy furniture
Making two dashboard lights turn back off in one trip to the gas station
Carrying Abby on my shoulders

How about you? What makes you feel manly or womanly?

World's Cutest Rocker

2009-09-24T18:51:00.002-06:00

Some People Say

2009-09-18T11:23:00.002-06:00

Some people say electric cars are the transportation of the future.

Others say zero emissions are a falsehood because you are in essence plugging your electric car into a coal burning power plant.

I say I'm holding out for a garbage-burning, flying Delorean.

Worse Than Texting and Driving?

2009-09-10T10:05:00.000-06:00

Despite all that is said about the dangers and stupidity of texting and driving, I still see it happen on a regular basis. It's pretty disturbing, but this morning on my way to work I saw something even more stupid and dangerous. A woman in a black car passes me at approximately 75 mph. I glance over and see her shoveling a spoonful of cold cereal into her mouth!

I'll admit it, I have been known on occasion to eat food while I drive, but seriously cold cereal? I'm not sure what had control of the wheel because her left hand was holding the bowl up to her greedy face, and her right hand was busy with the spoon. She must have had a third hand, because I noticed her fiddle with the radio and then her hair as she pulled further away from me and swerved in and out of the HOV lane.

It got me thinking, has anybody seen anybody doing anything more stupid while driving? Chime in, I'm curious.

U.S.A. Rodriguez

2009-09-04T13:13:00.002-06:00

I came across these hilarious videos today and had to share. They feature U.S.A. Rodriguez, goal celebration coach and numerous MLS stars. Kids: some of these celebrations would earn you a yellow card, but some would probably be worth it.

These are my favorite 2, there are 8 total. All are worth watching.

My Life According to Billy Joel

2009-09-01T12:07:00.002-06:00

I saw this on a friend's facebook, and I thought I'd give it a try.

My Life According to Billy Joel

RULES: Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Re-post as "My Life According to (BAND NAME)"

1. Are you a male or female?
Angry Young Man

2. Describe yourself:
The Entertainer

3. How do you feel:
(I'm in a) New York State of Mind

4. Describe where you currently live:
Half a Mile Away

5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Vienna

6. Your favorite form of transportation:
Close to the Borderline

7. Your best friend:
She's Always a Woman To Me, (James - second place)

8. Your favorite color is:
Sometimes a Fantasy

9. What's the weather like:
Falling of the Rain

10. Favorite time of day:
Through the Long Night

11. If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Big Man on Mulberry Street

12. What is life to you:
A Matter of Trust

13. Your current relationship:
Uptown Girl

14. Looking for:
Big Shot

15. Wouldn't mind:
Baby Grand

16. Your fear:
Pressure

17. What is the best advice you have to give:
If I only had the words (to tell you)

18. If you could change your name, you would change it to:
Captain Jack

19. Thought for the Day:
Ain't no Crime

20. How I would like to die:
Sleeping With the Television On

21. My motto:
Say Goodbye to Hollywood

Butterflies

2009-08-31T17:05:00.002-06:00

What is it about sharing something creative with somebody that immediately instigates uneasiness until some there is some kind of reaction from the viewer/listener?

Big Gesture, Quick Fix, Stepping on Toes

2009-08-24T15:48:00.003-06:00

I'm not a political person. Not at all. I don't affiliate myself with either party, and the extremes of both sides are troubling to me. This post is not intended to be a political statement, but rather a look at what seem to be flaws in the governments attempts to "right the ship" of our economy. Particularly, I want to address the very popular Cash for Clunkers program. On the surface, it seems like a win/win type of situation. The federal government gives added incentive to consumers to trade in old vehicles and purchase new, fuel efficient vehicles. People get themselves into new cars at great discounts, the auto industry gets a boost, and America consumes less fuel as a result. Sounds great right? Most people think so.

Have you talked to an auto repair worker lately? Oh, them. The people who you begrudgingly hand money over to when your car breaks down. The program which has auto manufacturers and dealers jumping for joy is also dealing a deadly blow to auto repair shops across the country who were already hit hard by the economy. How? The Cash for Clunkers program has very strict stipulations in regard to what is to be done with the "clunker" customers trade in for the new car. Regardless of it's condition, the used car must be disabled and sold for scrap or at auction. Even if everything works perfectly, the dealership has to put the engine out of commission and take the vehicle of the road permanently.

This means that about 750,000 vehicles have been pulled out of the system and replaced by new cars. The natural progression of cars needing maintenance, minor repairs, and major repairs has been severely altered. The effect for auto repair shops will be felt for months and perhaps years.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that when the government steps in to alter the environment in the economy, it will in most instances hurt one industry as much as it helps another. So, how does government decide who is going to be the beneficiary of everyone's hard earned tax dollars? Lobbyists? Experts? Advisers?

I have an idea for the government. Let the capitalist economy function as it is supposed to. Fair competition seems to be the hallmark of a good economy. If a company gets so large that it's failure would mean a national financial collapse, it is too large. The government's job at that point would be to split the giant company into smaller competing companies. If one of these new companies makes bad decisions and goes under, so be it. They have failed, and the employees move on to a company who is still competing.

The idea of government using taxpayer money to continually bail out a company who has failed, but is "too large to fail" is absurd. Big gestures and quick fixes are what got us into this mess. Even if it means that everybody cuts back and suffers to some degree, it is better that capitalism runs it's course.

365 Days of Abby

2009-08-18T21:03:00.002-06:00

Abby turned 1 last Friday. I made this movie for her, and I'm just getting around to posting it now.

Wearing the Wrong Color

2009-08-12T09:37:00.002-06:00

I almost sent my baby girl out into the world today wearing a green dress that Natalie had set out for her. Luckily, I discovered my mistake and changed Abby into a red white and blue floral print shirt that she wore on the 4th of July. The U.S. plays Mexico today in a World Cup qualifier in Mexico City at the daunting Azteca Stadium. They need all the support they can get, and Abby was happy to oblige.

Pop Art

2009-08-04T12:10:00.003-06:00

I've had fun working on this poster. Of course, a tip of the hat goes to Mr. Andy Warhol.

Ouch

2009-08-03T09:26:00.002-06:00

After 2 years of not water skiing, Saturday's trip followed by a lot of loading and unloading equipment, followed by playing a two hour set, followed by more loading and unloading equipment, followed by a fast, has left us with a very sore Jesse on Monday morning. It was a fantastic day, so the pain is all worth it. I just seem to be getting more and more reminders that I'm closer to 30 than I would like to admit.

Looking for Insurance Insurance

2009-07-31T10:39:00.002-06:00

I think I need insurance for my health insurance. I need to pay a third party to step in and help out in case the rates for my individual policy keep climbing to exorbitant levels despite me being in perfect helth. Oh, and also for the fact that should something disastrous happen, my current provider could drop me like a bad habit because I'm not on a group plan.

When I questioned the representative why my rates keep going up despite my good health and lack of claims, she informed me that they have to compensate for "all the claims being made." Wait, I thought this was my individual insurance. If I don't get the benefits of a group plan, why do I need to be a part of the draw backs?

She went on to explain that they are a "not for profit" organization. Interesting, I think we may have found the root of the problem. Are we not in a capitalist society? Maybe if they were trying to "make a profit" their services would make sense and they would treat customers with respect.

US Soccer Tickets

2009-07-28T11:55:00.002-06:00

The U.S. will be playing El Salvador in a World Cup 2010 Qualifying match at Rio Tinto Stadium on September 5th. If you are interested in getting good seats before they go on sale to the public, comment or email me before Thursday. It is a truly amazing sports experience. The passion, speed of play, and technical ability displayed in these games is second to none.

Confronting Superficiality with Superficiality

2009-07-22T11:12:00.003-06:00

First off, I'm pleasantly surprised with the response from my first philosophy post. It spurred some very interesting discussion and insight. Who knew weeds would stir up such varied and interesting thoughts? I hope the discussion continues, and I hope to post some more ideas over the next little while.

I came across an ad the other day for a new reality series by FOX called More to Love. Apparently, it is basically "The Bachelor" with the exciting twist that everyone on the show (including the bachelor and all the contestents) is substantially overweight. The advertisement kept using the phrase "real women" as it showed generic show clips of talking heads, romantic moments, drama, etc.

It really bothered me, and it took me a minute to figure out why. I don't have anything against people who are overweight, but there was something fundamentally wrong with the message. They were attempting to confront superficiality while being completely superficial. For a show that's trying to play the "beauty lies within" card, why would the first requirement of any contestant be body type? Because someone eats too much and doesn't exercise enough, they are a more genuine and "real" person than someone who takes good care of their body? What does that say about me? I am underweight according to doctor's height and weight charts, does that mean I am an exceptionally fake person? (Don't answer.)

FOX, you got this dead wrong. The show may turn out to be a hit (it probably will), but it is clearly sending the wrong message. I wonder if the producers at FOX are really that naive to miss the huge flaws in the show's concept. I tend to think there is a target audience they are feeding with the kind of things they want to hear. Despite their pretensions, I don't think the producers really care what they are conveying as long as people watch. What do you think? Am I wrong here? Am I overly sensitive as an underweight person?

Argument for the Exsistence of God: Part 1

2009-07-14T09:17:00.005-06:00

I posted the other day about wanting to explore some philosophical/metaphysical ideas. Then, I realized that I don't have any time to research to support my writing so I thought I would take a more simplified and sometimes comical approach to the subjects. In the time since, I have come up with a pretty strong and simple argument for the existence of God.

First, I'll start with a definition of Evil. Evil describes someone or something that is morally reprehensible, completely selfish, causing harm or destruction.

To find a perfect, tangible example of evil, one must only walk out his or her front door. Somewhere nearby there exists a weed. A plant whose entire existence is self serving, destructive, and reprehensible. Anyone with any experience gardening would have a hard time arguing in behalf of any redeeming qualities of weeds.

From here it is easy. We have tangible and irrefutable evidence of the existence of evil. Evil can not exist without good, just as darkness cannot exist without light. Else what is darkness? The ultimate goal of evil things is to administer pain and misery to our existence. Good seeks
to uplift and bring joy to our existence.

Here's where the discussion kicks in. Is it enough at this point in the argument to say that God exists? We've established tangible physical evidence that evil exists, therefore can we deduce that tangible physical good must exist? Does this argument require an "earthy" example of something that is completely good in opposition to the complete evil that weeds represent, or can we argue that God is the tangible, ultimate good?