deliberatepace:

What Every Parent Should Know About The TV Show Glee

This editorial is the most amazing thing I have ever read.  This person should not be allowed access to the internet …. amazing.

and I quote:

Additionally, the show has far too many musical numbers. From R&B hits to showtunes to classic rock & roll, the boys and girls of Glee really can put on a performance. But it’s not convincing on that million-dollar stage. They come across as trying too hard with their exaggerated facial expressions and hip posturings, the soaring voices ranges. They’ve clearly been coached. The singing is just too finely polished. The dance numbers are too excruciatingly choreographed. No high school kids can put on these sorts of shows at the spur of a moment. These things require years of gut-wrenching training.

Oops.  Seeing how construction is done in this region … nothing surprises me.

Monster of Folk — Live at The Greek in LA — “Map of the World”

It was one of those days.  I feel the start of a cold, my whole body aches and the stress at work today was a bit much.  I had to ask a guy today why he keeps insisting on lying to me about the schedule.  I literally dragged him to the middle of the construction site and said, “now, please explain to me how this is supposed to be dust free in a week”.

It didn’t work.  They continued to kid themselves.

I gave up.

Anyway - got home.  Took nice hot shower and started listening to Monsters of Folk while I finished up some work.  These guys are amazing - Jim James (My Morning Jacket), M. Ward (She and Him), Mike Mogis and Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes).

I was at this show in LA — just a few weeks before I left for Kuwait.  It was one of the most beautiful concerts I’ve ever heard / seen.  A perfect night under a clear SoCal sky …

The music relaxed me … found this great video … so I thought I’d share.

Enjoy.

This is the first time in my memory that I will miss a Super Bowl.  It’s easily one of my favorite sporting events ever (outside of Florida State football, of course).  My sister is throwing a party in Atlanta for her Saints …. I wish I was there!!  Think of me at kick-off … I’ll be sound asleep dreaming of football.

Peyton … I’ve always rooted for you (even if you did go to UT) …. but it’s not your year — GO SAINTS!

A great article about one company’s efforts (AEG) to make LA a world destination city again.  I don’t like everything AEG has done in LA (name $25 parking at LA Live) — but I appreciate that someone has a vision for the city that doesn’t seem entirely motivated by money.  I think a lot of the observations Tim Leiweke makes about LA are spot on true …. the city needs some serious help.

To all of those concerned:  I have returned to Kuwait and have started a new work week.  I am now a bit older and probably have a few less brain cells than I did this time last week.  It’s okay, though … I have plenty.

You can all expect a full update soon …. but I need at least a day to recover and retrace my steps.

I exaggerate.

No, it was a great time.  A crazy different city … I have some awesome pictures, etc … standby.

Oh and thanks for all of the great birthday wishes!

…Buy more American power adaptor….

I have to travel tomorrow and I only have 2 adaptors.  Normally this is fine — one for my computer and one for whatever else.  But tonight, I have several devices that I need to charge and can only do one at a time …. oh well.

… is perfect this morning.  It’s giving me just the motivation I need to get my work done… just thought I’d share.

At then end of 2009, I did a small reflective of the last year of my life.  While sitting here in Kuwait, a few days before my 28^th birthday, I started thinking about the last ten years.

I turned 18 in the year 2000, so 2010 represents the end of my first decade as an adult.

It would take forever to list every major accomplishment of the last decade, but I thought I’d take a minute to reflect on some highlights.  It’s been a crazy ten years and if the next ten are like it … it’ll be amazing.

2000

Started off the year taking an amazing trip to Scotland with my church group.  I then graduated high school and moved to Tallahassee to start my freshman year at Florida State University.

2001

I lost my grandfather in the summer – this was a very hard time for me as we were very close.  I, like millions of Americans, completely changed my views of the world and America on September 11^th.  If you had told me then that in 8 years I’d be working in Kuwait, I would have called you crazy.

2002

Another year in Tallahassee.  I’m sure amazing things happened, but I’m drawing a blank … haha.

Read More

This past Friday night, I had the opportunity to go to three very unique parties here in Kuwait.  The night started at 8pm and didn’t end until nearly 5am Saturday morning.

Party 1

The first stop was a birthday party for a friend of a friend.  This party was mostly British and Hungarian.  This was the most normal gathering I have been to in Kuwait.  The apartment was very cool and decorated like any normal American apartment.  All of the people were young, chill, normal and a bit hip, even.  I couldn’t help but sit there, look around and wonder how all of these people ended up here.  They were in all various jobs from teaching to military support to Harley salesmen … seriously.  I would have totally stayed there longer, but I was told it was time to move on….

Party 2

This was the most bizarre stop of the night.  My friends weren’t exactly sure where we were going, but all I knew was that they knew the DJ.  So we head toward this apartment building and head up the elevator.  The elevator opened right into this small hallway that was filled with laser lights, blacklights and smoke machine haze.  There was a large bouncer, seriously, standing there with a list.  After some confusion, they found our names on the list and we were allowed into the club (I mean, apartment).  We walk through another set of doors into a very small apartment living room.  There’s a DJ in one corner playing music so loud you could barely think.  There were smoke machines, light effect and lasers all over the place.  It was literally a mini nightclub.  All of the women were dressed as if it was a Vegas club … there must have been a side changing room because you certainly can’t go out in public like they were.  The crowd was mostly Arab and our group really stood out.  Haha.  It got really crowded really fast, so we didn’t stay at this one too long either ….

I had heard about these parties.  Apparently no one actually lived in the apartment.  Whoever owns it just keeps it for parties…. so strange.

Party 3

This was my favorite stop of the night.  The aforementioned Harley salesmen is an Irish guy that has lived in Kuwait for about 18 months.  He and his roommates have turned their basement into an Irish bar.  Literally.  I wish I had photos.  They have a huge dark wood bar … dart boards … flat screen TVs … projection screens … great sound system … dark lighting … flags …. everything.  Awesome.

Obviously — we stayed here the longest.  I hope I’m invited back to another gathering here … if nothing else … just to sit at his bar and feel slightly normal again.

My friends celebrated Jade’s birthday the other night.  As you may have read earlier, they called me from the party and we were able to video chat for a bit.

They also made me this AMAZING video.  It’s shot from my perspective, as if I had arrived at their party, fresh off the boat from Kuwait…. to celebrate my own birthday.

It’s so great.  I love and miss them all.  There’s one girl in it I don’t even know and now I love and miss her too.

Great idea.

fuckyeahdavematthewsband:

For those of you who missed it! Here’s DMB @ the Grammys

Sorry I missed this … looks awesome … I really love this song.