Being Thankful

today is thanksgiving and as a family we have a few little traditions:
a game or two of "scum-king"
one room with football on TV
the other room watching "White Christmas"
deviled eggs, turkey, chips and dip, olives, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, etc.
and at the end of the night, going through all the ads and making our christmas wish list for family to shop for.

This last one is always the most stressful, it always catches me off guard, and I always feel like a materialistic whore when I am done. This year was no different.
What was different was the deep confusion and dread i felt while i was listening to my middle-aged family write down what they want this year...

I dread the day where hand mixers and ceramic figurines would make the top of my Christmas list.

So thank the Lord I'm not there yet... and if you know me 30 years from now, ask me what is on my Christmas list, and slap me across the face if i have settled down and become my parents.

But for now I leave you with something far better to dwell on... part of a family tradition:

We are beggars all

My dear big brother and I went to an incredible concert last night. It was my third time seeing Thrice, Taylor's sixth. It was amazing. As soon as Teppei showed his face we were nothing but giddy, seeing as how we had read that he was not going to be there due to a family emergency! What an awesome surprise! The energy, their passion, and the excitement of a hometown crowd made for an outstanding show. They played old songs and new(off the Beggars album,) each one as energetic as the first. Every song was a treat. My favorite was when they played Melting Point of Wax, a song from Artist in the Ambulance (about the ancient myth of Daedalus and his son Icarus,) and followed it with Daedalus, from The Alchemy Index: Air (about the same myth, from the point of view of the Father.)

There is something about a Thrice show that is so different from any other shows I have been to. After seeing Thrice, even if I have been standing on my feet for hours I feel like time flies by. Last night in a text message I responded to Claire asking how the show went by saying, "Incredible. Of course. Nothing compares to a Thrice show. My head is pounding, my ears are muffled, my throat is sore, but i feel like i could climb a mountain." I love it, they are so great and so much fun to watch, I can not help but smile during and after the performance.

SET LIST:
Of Dust and Nations
In Exile
Helter Skelter (Cover)
Silhouette
The Weight
A Song For Milly Michaelson
The Artist in the Ambulance
Hold Fast Hope
At the Last
Doublespeak
Like Moths to Flame
The Arsonist
The Melting Point of Wax
Daedalus
Beggars

ENCORE:
Deadbolt (of course)
The Earth Will Shake


If you have not done so already, do your ears a favor and check them out.

cardboard and Atlas

I got the pleasure of taking save the date photos for some dear friends of mine out by the marshall canyon horses. Ususally taking posed photos like this really stresses me out and i feel really uncomfortable doing it, but this time it wasn't like that at all. I've known Jake for almost ten years(freaky that he's getting married now! ah!) and Meghan is so kind and easy to be around, so all the pictures didn't feel forced or awkward at all. They knew what they wanted to do, the lighting was gorgeous, and Atlas (Jakes pup) was a hoot. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

Ambition

I found this posted on a good friend of mine's facebook, the person who posted it described it as "inspring. depressing. creatively awesome." so of course, i had to take a look. im so glad i did. Here you will find not only beautiful photography, but also a refreshingly honest look into the day-to-day of this man's life. Check it out.

http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/

cold cash and colder hearts

I really am confused by the idea of money.

I need money to do things.
need.
NEED.

...really?

kind of.
I really feel the need to go to my friend's wedding in Oregon in March (which costs money for a plane ticket)
I really feel the need to purchase a vehicle in the near future.
I really feel the need to buy a plane ticket to Kodiak again this summer (or drive a car that takes gas)

I hate feeling so bound by currency.
money.
It can be the cause of so much evil, or so much good.