Merry Christmas: Garrison Keillor

The man knows how to use words. Merry Christmas. Talk to you soon.

New Post Over On Ruminate Magazine’s Blog

I love my friends at Ruminate Magazine. The expression of and abiding in the Kingdom can take many forms. Ruminate is one of those forms. I’m honored to be involved with it.

They allow me to write for their blog presence every couple of months. It’s the first of December, so I wrote about the appropriate music. I also just realized I wrote about the same music about one year ago on this blog. I re-read that post. That’s called metadiscourse or something…my friend Adam just taught me that term.

Man was I in a different season of life then.

One line from my new post:

I tuned the radio to the proper station and found the cast of Glee singing “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” It was an ice pick in my ears.

Don’t tell me that doesn’t tantalize your literary senses. Head over to the Ruminate Site to read the rest of the post, and then buy everyone you know a gift subscription.

Well put, Tim F. Thornton

This was too long to retweet on the Twitter, so it goes here. Mainly because I want to remember it. I added the appropriate photo.

Follow Timmy T: twitter.com/timfthornton

I am CEO & employee. As CEO I never deny my visionary state to do grunt work. Then when I lack focus I do grunt work until I wish to be CEO.

Monorail!

Over the past few months, I’ve spent quite a bit of time studying the history and operations of the Disney parks…mainly Walt Disney World Resort.

If you ever want to intake a pretty good history of the place, read Realityland. I hadn’t finished a book in a couple years before this one. Thomson was mainly into the cover:

Train ! Train! he would exclaim. So I hit up the YouTube to try and find some video of a cruising monorail. What I found was some old Disney propaganda. We are all cows on a highway. Enjoy:

Josh Ritter & Dawn Landes: 500 Miles

I’m mainly putting this here so Jes can hear it. The only recorded version I’ve ever heard is on The Innocence Mission’s album Christ Is My Hope. Jes used to sing it at summer camp and now sometimes sings it to Thomson while he falls asleep. That’s why I want her to hear it.

And I have a suspicion Josh Ritter is her rock star crush. I know he’s mine.

Listen below or go ahead and download it. Then, berate Mr. Ritter with kind requests to play at Everyday Joe’s. Include The Innocence Mission in your berating while your at it.

The Fellow Is Not Shy

Thomson was just thinking a peck. Tayla had other ideas, I suppose. Liam will be releasing his first indie/drone/beats album in the coming weeks, exclusively on vinyl the same color as the bottoms of his shoes and exclusively available at his crib.

Acceptance of Acceptance

The man is David Dark. Watching this was the first time I ever heard his actual voice, instead of the voice that narrates in my head when I read his writings. He speaks of many good things I am still floating through.  These are things that seem to be popping up in my universe often these days, though perhaps I only notice them now because they are very much on my heart’s radar.

It helps to read the passages, so I have been a peach and posted them below the video.

Last things: i dig the short sleeve white button up with a tie.

PSALM 23

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

REVELATION 7

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:

“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes-who are they, and where did they come from?”

I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Seismic

Four years ago…shortly after I met my friend Darren…I lost my grandfather. It was my first experience with familial death. “Your grandma’s reality has changed,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Darren’s father-in-law was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. The anti-rejection medicine he took for his transplanted kidney caused it to turn into a lung infection that his body could not fight. This morning at 1 am, Ray Gowing gave up his ghost. “He went well,” the text message from Darren said.

While Darren was with his family at the hospital yesterday afternoon, two young people I love very much were on the banks of the Poudre River. He was down on one knee, and she was watching a ring slide on to her finger. “She said yes,” the text message said.

Three days ago, I told the young man with the ring still in his pocket that in 48 hours his life would change completely. Earlier that afternoon – as the recovery of Ray Gowing began to look unlikely – I shared with Darren what he shared with me four years ago. I told him I think about it most days. Reality changes bits each day. Some days more than others. “Seismic changes in reality,” he said.

Twittereview | “Plastic Beach” By Gorillaz

From time to time I review an album via twitter (@whiskeycardigan). One tweet per track. Genius, I know.

I thought the “members” of “Gorillaz” had “parted ways”. Negs. Instead, they have an album coming out soon (March 8)…though the first in some some time. I have missed “them”.

The wise ones at NPR struck some deal with someone and are streaming the entire album for your enjoyment. I listened and I tweeted. I also danced at my desk at work…mostly with my head.

Twittereview: “Plastic Beach” by Gorillaz

1. “Orchestral Intro” On a beach. Ocean sounds and strings. I’m in a Nicholas Sparks book/movie.
2. “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach” Beat drops, Snoop! Sounds like his measures are freestyle. Rockin’ in the bubblebath.
3. “White Flag” Hand drums. Strings. Flute. Then classic Gorillaz synthbeats. Island synthbeats. And rhymes. Two mojitos, please.
4. “Rhinestone Eyes” 1st taste of Albarn vocals. The cartoons are in my head. On my cartoon island. New genre: synther-songwriter.
5. “Stylo” M-O-S DEFinitely. The beat makes my shoulders jiggle. I should be at a party in a Bret Easton Ellis novel.
6. “Superfast Jellyfish” Live drums & we’re underwater with Neptune protesting a superfast culture.
7. “Empire Ants” A sparse beginning followed by more synth and light beats. Less calories. Working the machine. Social commentary.
8. “Glitter Freeze” Momentum building. Killer bounce beat & atmospherics. Forced to turn the headphones up. Ears are screaming w/ joy.
9. “Some Kind of Nature” Lou Reed on verse. Albarn the chorus. Waiting for Warhol & Bowie to show up for the party…& Wes Anderson.
10. “On Melancholy Hill” If Cusak had to hold up the boombox again, this would be the song waking her up.
11. “Broken” The 80s tinge continues. Old west robot showdown soundtrack. The robots don’t want to showdown…they are in love.
12. “Sweepstakes” Vintage Mos Def. Track feels little dirty and I like it. Elements keep coming in. Horns! We’re in a marching band.
13. “Plastic Beach” Time to show how fatasique Gorillaz can get with computer music.
14. “To Binge” Lovely samba duet. Let’s grocery shop and play bingo. G-3. G-3. I just have to tell you that I love so much these days.
15. “Cloud of Unknowing” Soul ballad. Full strings. Sea sounds. Seagulls. Lonely. Sunshine sounds.
16. “Pirate Jet” The Gorillaz are leaving the island. Loading the plane. Complimentary cocktails. Fly safe.

• Oh, @gorillazband. You don’t disappoint. If I could shake your cartoon hands, I would. Except Murdoc…cuz that would be the end o’ my soul.

Whiskey | Cardigan: Dead Guy Whiskey, Dead Guy Ale, Sweater Lecture

WHISKEY

That day at the liquor store was a special one…the day I made the discovery.

Whiskey’s are often the subject of object lust in my universe. I head to the store for something and spend 15 minutes slowly slowly slowly walking along the whiskey section. The things of my desire require expendable income. Extra $$$s are not something that exist in my universe.

One such trip I noticed a new addition to the shelf: Dead Guy Whiskey from Rogue Brewery. Dead Guy Ale is magnificent. “One day,” I thought, “I will drink these crafted beverages side by side.” And my lust continued.

Then, I got paid for something. Don’t remember what, but those $$$s that I don’t normally posses were in my hands and before long this was the scene on my kitchen table:

The result of the scene was delicious. Jes (wife) was putting the boy to sleep and emerged from his room to see me sitting and staring at the wall whilst drinking the whiskey and the ale side by side…taking notes. This convo ensued:

Jes: You’re weird.

Me: So are you.

Jes. I love you.

Me: I love you too.

Certain tastes translated between the two: orange and watermelon notes…some earthier notes at the end, peach at the nose. I got Jes to try some of the whiskey the other night and she dug it. I dig it. Please let me know if you’d like to come over and try some.

CARDIGAN

I recently MC’d the Mountain Regional Barista Competition. ‘Twas a nice time. Good people enjoy coffee…and whiskey it turns out.

Much energy was exerted chatting with folks who had just finished competing while waiting for the next competitor to be ready/the judges to be ready. Some competitors were quite chatty. Others were not. This resulted in an impromptu lecture on the benefits, strategies, and appropriateness of various sweater types: v-neck, cardigan, and vest.

Some found it amusing. Others gave me the “what the hell are you saying” look. I found it quite informative. A quick summary:

• V-Necks: Great for layering, though you run the risk of getting hot and need to consider the shirt under the v-neck. Short sleeve w/ a collar is classy. Long sleeve can be bulky, but looks nice if you need to remove the sweater.
• Sweater Vest: Guaranteed to keep your core warm. Allows for more versatility when it comes to the shirt underneath. You can go long sleeve collared and roll the sleeves up if you get too warm. A timeless option, in my opinion. Also good with short sleeves or a t-shirt if you’re into boating.
• Cardigan: Most practical and nice for all seasons. Easily removed, though good looking when buttoned up. Throw on a tie if you want to really get classed up…or just a t-shirt if you still love Kurt Cobain. Plus, they seem to be hip with the NBA players these days.

You may want to print that summary up – two copies methinks – one for your wallet and one for your closet wall.