ACL

Figured I'd put up a few pictures from the Austin City Limits Festival we went to a few weeks ago. These pics were mostly taken by katie, and all were on her camera. Yeah! Was a way fun weekend. Hope to be able to go again sometime. Maybe next year. :0)

blanca and I looking cute

Blanca and Katie being goofy
Chris - well, that's just Chris doing who knows what. I think he's trying to look intimadating.
Chris' ad for Ozarka water :0)

yes, that IS John Mayer. Great concert.White Ghost Shivers - a local band that is great musically but fairly scandalous.

Nathan and Katie chillin'

the whole group
Tom Petty. We left early b/c of the rain but got to hear him do some of his bigger songs.

humm...

Still have a few things on my mind. Not sure I can really verbalize clearly but I will attempt. Been thinking about Christ-followers (myself included) reaction to not “Christ approved” behaviors. Sunday I was talking with a friend and she asked about how another friend and her boyfriend were doing. I mentioned they were fine and getting closer to getting married and whatnot with counseling and stuff, and somehow mentioned they were living together. My friend then said, “oh, are they going to get kicked out of their church?” It kindof took me back. I know what the Bible says. I know sex before marriage is not God’s plan. I know “living together” usually includes sex. But “kick them out of church.” Humm… well, one of the people in the relationship doesn’t know God so her getting to know God is the most important thing for her life right now, and honestly – kicking her out of church is probably not God’s plan for what is best for her life. Now he (the guy in the relationship) does know God. And yes, he is not obeying God at the moment and I do pray for him. He does have guys in his life confronting him. So, then that brings up something else. He knows God, she doesn’t yet. Is part of God’s plan for their lives to get married? I don’t know for sure. That’s between them and God. I am not thinking its wise to marry an unbeliever b/c of all the issues that will come up, but God did tell Hosea to go marry Gomez. I am still wrapping my brain around that one. I am actually still trying to wrap my brain around lots of stuff in the Bible. Anyway – I guess my point is I think sometimes we Christ-follower expect everyone to act like Christ-followers even when they aren’t. I think we need to show a little more grace and love which God has commanded us to do. And lets stop trying to kick people who are trying to get to know God out of our churches for their slip-ups.

the 350Z

me: I get to ride in chris' cool car tonight. It's like being on a roller coaster.
elida: yes, but on a roller coaster you won't die!

oh the faith of elida in chris' driving. :0) I totally love the Z. woohoo.

sweet, eh? :0)

Fav photo from Live the Music

So, I might post more Live the Music pictures at some point. Well, all of them are online at http://mphotodesign.photoreflect.com Anyway, this is my favorite from the night. Cleaned it up in photoshop some. Used a noise filter on some of it and touched up the background and a few minor things. I like it. :0) I like the shadow on his face, the tilt of the hat/head, the light on the belt buckle, the red in his shirt, the angle of his arms/fingers, the microphone coming up under his hat, .... Plus, the boy is playing a steel guitar. How cool is that?!?

Oh Callaway - you're too cute.

So, went on a spontaneous hike yesterday with the Kobes. Very fun. Beautiful day. Callaway had the quote of the day: "Em, don't go scamper off" :0) too cute.

Quotes from Elida

My boss says my co-worker Elida should be my role model. So I call Elida my hero. She takes that pretty well. She's a year older than me, we started working in the departemnt the same week, and over the past 7 years have become good friends. So here are a few of her recent quotes I found amusing.

While at Red River Cafe in a very excited cheerleader voice and kindof loud too which made it even more funny. "Wow, this water tastes surprisingly like dirt!"

Stated like it was a fact: "Yesterday was fat people day at Sams Club."
She then went on to tell me on the clearance clothes table there were big people sizes in pants, shorts and whatnot for like $3.

(oh, and for you guys confused as to why she should be my role model its b/c she tackles whatever task is given to her even if its not in her field. She started out writing technical stuff and doing online training and now she does Organizational Development and Counseling to departemnts on campus and is a stand up trainer for a few classes AND is working on her docorate in Higher Education Administration. Yep, she's cool. :0)

Jars of Clay

jars - I've liked them even before I heard them. Yes, that sounds crazy. I saw an ad for their upcoming CD in spring of '95. I was a butt poor college student but said I'd buy that album when it came out. I did. I liked it. Sure, since then I haven't loved everything they've written. Not sure if the newest CD Good Monsters will be any good. But ya know, even though their chords are simple and they don't even have a bass player or drummer in the band, I still like them. This is one of my favorite Jars songs...

"Jealous Kind"
I built another temple to a stranger
I gave away my heart to the rushing wind
I set my course to run right into danger
Sought the company of fools instead of friends

You know I've been unfaithful
Lovers in lines
While you're turning over tables with the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind
Love of a jealous kind

Trying to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
For solace in the shift of the sinking sand
I'd rather feel the pain all too familiar
Than to be broken by a lover I don't understand
'Cause I don't understand

One hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
If I should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
And love that shames the wise, betrays the heart's deceit and lies
And breaks the back of foolish pride

Not a whole lot to say

well, figured I "needed" to write something. I have a few ideas in my head for blog topics but I don't have all my ducks in a row yet to actually write about them.

One exciting thing this week is yesterday was Jenni's birthday. She's a whopping 27. :0) I was slightly proud of myself that I got her package all packed and shipped to Amsterdam on time and she got it in time for her birthday. I was also happy that the maternity clothes actually fit and she liked them. Its so hard to shop for clothes for someone and maternity clothes at that. I also got Will the new Fair CD and sounded like he liked it. Which that was cool. It is a totally cool CD.

So speaking of music -- I spent all weekend at the ACL festival here in Austin. 3 days, 140ish bands, sunny, hot, dehydrated, cloudy, crowded, wet, hungry, and way too much fun. Really enjoyed it. Ofcourse hanging with Chris, Blanca, and the Robinsons made it WAY fun. I'd say my favorite band was John Mayer which I wasn't expecting. He's a really good guitar player. My favorite moment was hearing/seeing Van Morrison sing Brown Eyed Girl. Eekkk!! Tom Petty doing Free Fallin' was up there too. Flaming Lips and Gnarles Barkley were probably the worst bands I saw. Flaming Lips was an interesting show but musically they were bad. The Raconteurs, KT Tunstall, and Galactic were great. KT Tunstall is way cute and has a fun stage presence. Oh and Los Amigos Invisibles were fun latin-y dance stuff. So, yep, was a fun weekend.