Return to The Island of Misfit Toys

Saturday was the memorial service for Josh Eudy. Nathan was asked to lead a short worship set at the start of the memorial and enlisted the help of Andrew Amanda and myself, as well as Erin Sousa, and Nathan's bride. First I will say that any type of public speaking at a memorial service is difficult. Leading 300 hurting people into a place of worship is a whole other level. But, a worship leader's job is to lead God's church in corporate thanksgiving and prepare hearts for the ministering of the Holy Spirit. A much more tangible task.

The moment that hit me in the face rather unprepared was on Thursday when we all met at the Naz to go over songs. There Nathan, Andrew, Manda and I all stopped in the middle of dragging amps and pianos around on stage and looked at each other. Here we were again, the Island of Misfit Toys as Nathan used to call us, four worship leaders who cut our teeth together on that stage. We all learned what worship was 10 years ago on that stage standing next to these same people. The last time I lead worship with Nathan was in this building. It was just too crazy. I do have an attachment to the Naz that is probably a little unhealthy. I worshipped in this building, met my friends in this building, met Rachel at the Naz youth group and married her on this stage.

Worshipping with these guys was awesome. And getting together in the Naz was even more amazing. The building is beautiful, acoustically balanced and has an enormous stage. Just not enough electrical outlets. The time together was great, and helped prepare my heart for a very difficult Saturday afternoon.

There were just a few things missing that made it somewhat bittersweet... The Gretch, of course. Matt Teague's bass, Travioli and his stripedy drum set. Andrew Eudy's wisecracks at the board, and yes Josh.

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything,everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Followup on the Wall's

Pray for Erin, she's not doing fantastic. Rach saw her mom this weekend and it sounds like she's back in the hospital and just not healing well. Pray that the Lord continue to heal and repair and that the Holy Spirit comfort the family.





Josh Eudy... You are an amazingly talented wonderfull kid. Know that you are loved by Christ and in His peace. We lift up the Eudy family for comfort from the Holy Spirit. God is soverign and just, and all things are worked together according to His perfect will. Peace and comfort be with Bill, Kelly and the kids.

We love you guys and we love you Josh.

Toejam and the Peanut

An Update on Life

Well, the last few months have been beyond crazy and there seems to be no let up in sight.

First and foremost, the Wall family is back in town, but laying low. I have been secretly driving by their house while they were in Stanford and praying for Erin. Today, I noticed cars home, and lights in the house. I believe that the Lord has taken care of them. I don't want to push if they are wanting to lay low, but want to help. This is always a hard place to be. Sitting and waiting. But I believe that they are doing well, and she is healing.

October is almost over, praise the Lord. This has been the hardest, most difficult month of my life. Collectively, I do not think that I have spent more than 2 hours at once with my family. It is friday afternoon, and I am filling out my work journal for the last week of October. According to my journal, I have taken 3 days off this month, and averaged 11 hours per day monday through friday. Maybe this is why I am so tired. I had to put an end to somebody's career this month. Telling somebody that you are choosing to terminate their employment is not an easy task. It is in no way like a reality tv show. From the moment that you make the decision till the moment you tell them you will not sleep. Afterwards, your brain will not stop. Not at all. It has been weeks, and I think about this every day.

On a lighter note there is new Leif in the lab. I hired an entry level lab technician, and he started this week. His name is Leif, which explains my silly joke. A very likable person, who is catching on very quickly. I am worried that with the pace that the lab is running I won't have the time that I need to spend with him training.

I have been spending a substantial amount of time at the St Joseph's Hospital project for concrete pours and rebar placement. This project has reached a point that I believe is nothing less than hostile. I love my job, I love what I do and the people that I am working with, but I am beginning to believe that this project is sucking the life out of me. There is never an easy answer, and some days you feel like you have been backed into a corner and need to fight your way out. I have learned to be on the defensive at all times when I am there. Watch what I say, who I say it to, and what I put in my reports. This project is more than difficult. Rebar upon rebar upon rebar. More rebar than I have ever seen in one place. I feel for the steel worker's foreman because the challenge is nothing less than daunting, and he receives no easy breaks. The most difficult part for me is the fact that I have identified what I call "core clients" for the lab, and the amount of resources that I am allocating to this project is adversely effecting these core clients.

There are beacons of light that do shine at this project. The Superintendent is a really fun guy who has been going to Centerpointe, so I get to see him on sundays too. Everybody is working long hours and I feel bad for stealing time from their families.

This weekend I am not coming into work. I am planning on doing nothing and enjoying my family. I miss them, even though I see the boys when they go to bed, and see my wife for an hour or two in the evening, I still miss them. Here's hoping for rain, rain like crazy that will stop or slow some of the construction activities in Humboldt and let me breathe. It's 4:45 friday and I am off the clock. I have spent the last half hour reading Rachel's blog, laughing at the boys, and trying to decompress before I go home.


Final thoughts... The Lord gives us challenges with the idea that we will overcome if we rely on Him. He's not going to let us walk us into anything that He cannot steer us out of. All we need to do is keep our eyes firmly focused on His will and His glory and we'll make it through the bad stuff and into His marvelous light.

Quickly I would like to throw this out there. We are commanded by the Lord to pray for those who are sick, and I am sending out the request to all of my friends and family. Our friends the Wall family are headed to Stanford to have surgery this wednesday. A tumor was found in Erin's(mom's) head. As I said, the surgery is scheduled for this wednesday. Please pray for this family, Rob, Erin, Steve, and Mackenzie. The Lord has previously healed her from the same thing years ago, and we have faith that He can and will heal again. Fast, Pray, lift them up and make your requests known to our merciful and great Savior:

Pray that:

They draw near to their Savior, know and trust in His salvation.
The Doctor remove everything.
Rob and Erin have strength, find strength in Him to guide them.
Erin has a speedy recovery.
Rob and the kids make it okay.
Jesus reveals Himself to them while they're away.
The Doctor remove everything.
Erin fully recovers.

I trust in the Lord's plan. God is soverign, and always in control of our lives. When I was in the ER with Jack, I did not see that, and the Walls right now may not be able to see that.

Father I thank you for the Wall family and the joy that they have been in our lives. As they prepare for this journey, I ask that Your peace be over their family. Guide their hearts. Give Rob the peace and comfort to be a father to his children, and a comfort to his bride. Clear Erin's mind of doubt and fear, and most of all father HEAL. We know that You are able and desire that Your children not suffer. You have healer her body before, and I ask that Father you heal again. Show Your glory in this moment. Let them see that You are God alone, able to do all things for the Glory of Your Name!

Pictures of the Rug Rats

Although there is the occasional blond headed Downey, I'm still concidering these to be family pictures. I've been able to go camping twice with Max this summer, and once with mommy and Jack. That's right, Rachel was camping. It was very fun, I'm not sure why I enjoy camping so much. You don't really do much when you're out. Brandon mentioned that if you do the same activities in your living room that you do when camping, people will begin to question you. Sitting on a folding chair all day eating... Why is that ok when you're in the woods?

At any rate. Rach got all of the good camping pictures, so you'll have to look for them on her blog. Till then, here's a blustery day at the park and an afternoon in the back yard.

Labor Day 2008

Today is labor day, September 1, 2008. In 27 days it will be our anniversary! At work I keep track of my time in the "red book." It is a little red diary that sits on my desk and I use it to keep track of my daily tasks for billing purposes and to fill my time sheet. Each year when I get a new red book, I go to September 1st, and write the countdown. I also add another 30 day countdown that begins November 11th for Rach's birthday. So on the 28th we'll be married... I always get this wrong, not because I forget, but my basic math skills are pretty sad. Sept. 2008 minus Sept. 2002= 6 years. not 7 or 5, but 6. These 6 years have been amazing. I know that I have changed from the person that I was 6 years ago, but I think that alot of that is due to Rachel. My priorities have shifted quite a bit, but I am glad that I have been pulled in the direction that I am today. Time with my family and my friends are now the strong desire that I feel, where it was centered before on more selfish activities. I still enjoy surfing and playing music, but am content to stay home saturday morning and watch Dora with Max, or come to church with my family and sit together and worship. I am less inclined to go to Centerville on a saturday morning without a friend these days because, when I do, I find myself missing the fellowship. Who do you brag to when you get a good wave?

So it is Monday, Labor Day, and what am I doing? I am at work, while my family is at home. I need to run oil content samples for Mercer Fraser so they can continue paving on Tuesday. I don't really care if they continue paving, so why am I here/ Very, very long story.... I'm waiting for a can of PG 64-16 grade liquid asphalt to get to 300 deg f., then I can kick some butt. Asphalt testing is not my responsibility at SHN. My job is to manage people who test asphalt. I must say though, I'm getting pretty stinking good at running mix designs. While the oil heats up, I'm doing data entry.

9:45; 200 deg f.

10:20; 250 deg f.

About a year ago, I decided that I wanted to grab another rung on the SHN ladder, and join the world of middle managment. This summer I have spent alot of time questioning that decision. This year has been the perfect storm of variables that have made me a stranger in my own home. We have more work than we have ever taken on in history. I have 9 technicians that I am using every day, and the last three months have shown the highest billings that the lab has ever accrued. Although I have a pretty amazing crew of guys, you are only as strong as your weakest link, and I have a few missing links.

10:30; 255 deg f.

In all honesty, I guess that I care about my job. I can say that I don't, but the product that I put forth is a reflection of me. Just like Max is a reflection of my skills as a parent, yikes!! The problem that I am having is that I have people who don't care and are just here to collect a check. Do I fault them for this?

10:40; 255 deg f. close enough.

11:30; Now we're rocking, once things get hot it goes pretty easy. Doing my 16 minute calibration counts, forgot that I need to do my timesheet. Lets see if I can get out before 5:00.

New music from Bright Eyes

Ok, so I'm the guy who based his only opinion of the band Bright Eyes on an appearance that I saw on Austin City Limits. When I saw the show, I considered the lyrics and style of Conor Oberst to be a little too melodramatic and heavy for my taste. So I wrote the band off far too quickly. Here I am now, after listening to their music posted on their Myspace officially eating my words.

The sound of the four songs available to sample on their Myspace is nothing less than beautifully refreshing. This is nothing compared to the small bare taste that I got from the ACL show. Although the melody and rhythm is joyous and light in songs like Four Winds and I Will Be Grateful, the lyrics blur lines between love lost and new found love. I am beginning to understand the melancholy and how it pertains to the songs.


My inspiration for taking a new fresh look on Bright Eyes came from the ride home from work last night. As usual, traveling down Broadway and venturing onto the 101 south, I was listening to All Things Considered on NPR and was able to hear a review of Conor Oberst's album When Love Turns Sour. This review on the ride home, and the samples of the amazing new music from Conor forced me to re-evaluate my look on the band. The sound and style of his music is more than what I had so easily dismissed before. I've been playing what I can find from him and the band at work today and it has been great.

After the bitter taste of eating my own words wears off, I may just find myself buying Conor Oberst's new album along with music created with the band. It's great. I Don't Want to Die (In the Hospital) is nothing less than the true definition of Rock and Roll while the other music you find encompasses so many styles.

A New Look

Thought that I would change things up a bit, a little top and tails for the ol' bloggaroo, so I changetd the format for a while. Let's just see how I like it.

The Knack

I thought that this was fitting, I work all day with engineers.

New Blog in Town

I'm very excited to report that my favorite person on the planet has started a blog.

http://tootypants.blogspot.com is the address for my wife's blog. Enjoy!

The Mexican Jumping Bean

Jack borrowed the Johnny Jump Up spring loaded child projectile device from the Downeys. This apparatus was a favorite for Max, and no doubt the Downey children. I think that the only reason that there is not a Johnny Jump Up model for adults would be... Well there really isn't a reason. Why can't I have one of these. I watch Jack bounce 'till he barfs and think "Why can't I?"

Family Day at the River

We took a trip this weekend to Richardson Grove to see Kristin's family and spend time at the river. This was max's second time in 7 days where he ventured into a body of water larger than our bath tub, but it went well. He is at the stage in life now where as long as he's holding daddy's hand, no harm can come to him. After a trip down the slide at TLC, and across the deep water at Richardson Grove he's rethinking this notion, but for now he's taking big steps in exploration.

This is how Jack chooses to explore the great outdoors

The Peanut's first ink, watch out ladies!

Those Prickly Old Rose Bushes

My roses and I have a very tumultuous relationship. They were planted many many years ago in a very bad location. My front yard is very small, this reality was further accentuated by the rather obtrusive fence that I built. Most of the year these spiny, thorny, aged plants reach out to me in an attempt to snag my legs and scratch my children. They hide their thorns amongst the grass and weeds that I pull from around their trunks. And when I say trunks, I really mean trunks. The main vine of the large rose near the laundry room window has at least a 1 1/2" diameter. Each year I cut this bad boy down, but it bounces back to around 8 feet tall. I cut them all pretty hard this year, and transplanted a few. I thought that surely they would die, but they've returned stronger than ever. Nature's little symbol of Christ. The old and the dead are cut away to allow for new growth and new fruit. Well, this week I'm loving my flowers. Every morning when I head to my car they have greeted me glistening in the first day's sunlight. Today I took my camera and captured their morning greeting.

I have not had time to do much of anything in the last month or so. Life is running by so quickly, and I am trying so hard to keep up that I am realizing that I am missing out on alot of life. Time to stop. Time to focus. I was very blessed to lead worship twice this Sunday in the company of good friends. It was difficult stopping the noise in my head, but it is Tuesday now, and the Lord has not finished the renewal that began Sunday morning in Weott. Rejoice in the Lord always, and if you didn't listen the first time, again I say REJOICE! The Lord is my peace and my quiet.

As of now I will no longer acknowledge the stress and calamity as it enters my world and tries to pull my focus. Eyes forward, no more fiery darts to think about.

My friends, who are awesome, will from time to time try to extend my cultural experience past this county that I cherish so much and introduce me to new music from outside my emerald veil. This month I have not been able to listen to any of the new bands that have been impacting the mind frame of the people that I rely on for musical inspiration. Here is a sampling of the beauty of song that I am missing out on:

Myrrh (from the great state of MN)
The Weepies
Boys Like Girls
Ingrid Michaelson
Mieko

And of course Skylines and Archives. Wish that I could take the credit for discovering this guy. I was just given two recordings from live shows that he did recently. Check out Skylines and Archives.

I am writing this post with the thought in mind that people actually read and acknowledge what I say. If this is true, and somebody out there is listening, listen to these bands and tell me what you think. If this is just narcissistic ramblings, and nobody is listening, then I will gear my blog more towards delusions of grandeur and self exaltation.

goodbye

Time to go and say goodbye to my Grandpa. He may be here days, weeks, or months, but he wants to say goodbye.

"Lord give me the strength and sensativity to say goodbye and I love you to a man who has been a grandfather, father, and teacher to me for 31 years. Lord You give and take away, but my heart will choose to bless Your name at all times. For You are soverign, and You are always good."

More Thoughts on Style of Worship

It had been a while since I rocked the Unashamed cd, so I put it in the old cd player at near damaging volume on the way to work. Remember cd's? Those shiny round things that we had o so long ago before Apple ruled the world. Is it too early to have this conversation? Maybe I'm just thinking in Geological time.

So my revelation happened in song one of the cd. This song as originally written and recorded has an almost dark color. The feeling that is presented is the artist's calling to her passionate beautiful Savior for mercy. The desire to cling to the cross and plead Christ's blood as a covering for our iniquities. When I hear Gretchen's recording of the same song it becomes an anthem of praise to our passionate beautiful Savior. Praise to our Savior for His work on the cross that has made us clean. In the original sound there is a desire to approach the Lord of hosts pure and blameless; the latter recording is a praise sent forth in the presence of the Redeemer.

So my thought would be; where does this character in a song come from? If the words are the same, is it only inflections and rhythm that create these differing colors? Often times I will sing the same song at different points in my life and it will mean something totally new to me. For this reason, it is good to read and re-read the same scriptures over and over. When we are called to meditate on the word, it is not so much a repeated chant that sends us into a transestential state, but to read Psalm 39 when life is great. Then when life is not so great, get back to Psalm 39. Same words, different application to your life.

So Gretchen is great at turning most songs into anthems of praise to our Lord. Is it just because she has a powerful voice? I would dare to say that her declaration of thanksgiving for grace mercy and justice comes from the realization and joy that Christ has already paid the price. We have already been redeemed by the blood. There is no reason for condemnation, it is time to stand up and walk in His grace. Be holy, as He is holy!

Sunday Am 4/29/08, Flesh and Bone

I'm a week behind with news on how it was leading worship last weekend with Andrew and Amanda, but in my defense I believe that this week was only 5 1/2 days long. I came to work on Monday morning, 100 phone calls, 600 miles and a bazillion emails later it was friday afternoon, and I hadn't even finished my timecard.

Leading with my brother and sister again was awesome. I was almost an hour late for the practice on thursday, but nobody killed me. What a great team; Amanda, Andrew, Guy, Lou, and Leigh-Ann (the hardest working chica in the worship business). A moment for Leigh-Ann's ability to rock a tamborine in the right hand, shaker in the left hand, ready the rain stick with her right foot, sing harmony, and do it all into one mic and balance it perfectly. Guy and Lou are the most dynamic bass/rhythm section I have played with. Those guys work off each other amazingly. During the practice we joked about the fact that if you get three Gonzales' to lead a service, you'll get 45 minutes of worship and three songs. Turns out, sunday am was 45 minutes of worship and three songs.

Sunday Set:

Flesh and Bone; S.McMillan, Amanda

Announcements

And Can it Be; C.Wesley, Andrew
Sing My Love; S.McMillan, Leigh-Ann
You Gave Your Life Away; P.Baloche, Andrew
I Love Your Presence; D.Clark, Dave (deleted)

Sermon

Not To Us; C.Tomlin, Dave

Andrew can only be described as the gentelman worship leader. His style is so smooth. Of course he's been doing it the longest, but Andrew is a throw back to a different style of piano led, free flowing worship. Songs do not begin and end with awkward page turning and instrument tuning between songs. The worship offering begins then rolls seamlessly into the word. The direction that worship style has moved in the last decade is to guitar led electric sound with more instrument solos and driving beats. The ebb and flow of a piano led style of worship is unique and intimate.

Leading the charge for the plugged in, Bobby D at Monterey, electric sound is Amanda. I have said many times that when I grow up, I want to be my sister. I would describe her sound as very bare. She takes every song that she leads and presents it as her offering, open and bare, not hiding behind her talent or merit. She takes the song, cuts it in half, aligns the halfs in two rows and waits for the fire! Amanda expects the refining fire. She anticipates it, yearns for it, and runs to it. Her sound is raw and unsettled, but her passion is purity in her offering.

All in all, I was blessed by the opportunity to stand next to my family and friends and worship the Lord together. I am blessed to be surrounded by talented people who have a passion for worship.

Deconstruction, Justin McRoberts

Justin McRoberts has released his album "Deconstruction," Rachel recieved it in the mail last week and like a good husband I have been monopolizing this cd since it's arrival. For those who have not heard his music, Justin is a writer who attacks very complicated issues through his music. He's not afraid to discuss the state of the church in America, or the state of our Union, or open up and discuss the state of his own walk.

Justin's style is very bare and laid open. Even with a full band on the recordings there is always a sense of rawness in his sound. He tours alone. More correctly, he does not tour with a band. His wife comes along, who is the best manager, promoter, roadie, sound tech in the business. Who better than your wife to say "Hon, you just sound off. You need to not suck tonight." This kind of necessary criticism for a live performer always comes a little more well recieved from the woman you're in love with. Trust me.

Back to the album. Deconstruction. I'm not going to write a big review of the album, but say that I feel this is one of the best. In fact it is hard trying to write my thoughts on the album while I listen to track five:

"...but every critic with his pen and his computer talks about effectiveness and not about the art."

Tough to swallow. There is a move in this album somewhere in following with the self reflection of "Grace Must Wound." I am thoroughly enjoying the album as a whole. Justin's music always tends to knock me flat footed for a few days, and I'm still trying to regain my ballance. If you have the opportunity to see him live, I would definately encourage you. Most of his shows are free, and at churches that invite him to share. An evening of Justin is comprised of great music, sharing of his testimony, jokes, and fellowship. He and his wife are a great family to meet, and very open to meeting people wherever they travel.

Most of the Deconstruction album is available to listen to on his website, and I recommend spending the cash and making this album your own.

http://www.justinmcroberts.com/mainpage.html

"Well, I spent the whole night fightng
Fighting with some ghost
And when the break of morning found me
I'd both won and lost

You see the question isn't are you going to suffer any more,
But what will it have ment when you are through?
The question isn't are you going to die, you're going to die
Will you be done living when your through?

Yes I spent the whole day running
Trying to catch the sun
But when the darkness overtook me
All my runnig made me strong

So run until you cannot take a single step in strength
Then crawl on your hands and knees, 'till your hands and knees they ache
And when you cannot crawl
It will be me you call to carry you back home again"

Death Cab for Cutie

So monday night was the Death Cab show, and let me tell you. Those guys came to rock and they definately brought it. I think that HSU has a reputation in the music industry for being a venue that really rocks the house. Every show that I've been to at the ol' Duzer has always had a very lively and responsive crowd.

The opening band was a trio from Seattle called The Cave Singers. http://www.myspace.com/thecavesingers

The guitar player did some amazing things on a nylon string guitar. He had it set really hot, so his fingerpicking was very poppy, not something I'm used to with a nylon guitar. Their sound is kinda the classic Seattle indie sound that makes that city great. Big thumbs up for those guys. They were given a half hour set and hooked me from the start.

Death Cab brought it, and brought it big! It had been a while since I've seen a live show, and I enjoyed being able to really study the band and what they were doing. I'm usually not a jumper and screamer, I tend to sit and absorb what's happening. The band is made up of 4 very accomplished musicians, all well versed in multiple instruments. The sound that they create is big, those guys are all about dynamics, big swings and big drops in tone and dynamic. There's a simplicity in most of what they play with the tension and resolve being created through the lyrics and the dynamics.

I've noticed a trend in guitar style that has not been immerging as anything new, but getting more recognition in the rock and roll community. The idea of the guitarist not as a soloist and spotlighted engima, but a foundation block for the sound. This stye has been going on for years in bands such as U2 and REM, but has been very underappreciated until recently. I think that an album full of soaring guitar solos has left too many people feeling that the song has soared off without them. Death Cab's two guitarists work back and forth building off of eachother's riff and sound to create the foundation for the song. It really is a great way to convey mood, and emotion into the song. I also think that when the guitarist can break away from speed riffs and panatonic scale, it opens the door for new sound and harmonics. There becomes a freedom to express the tone of your amp and the overtones that are created in the room. Don't get me wrong, there will always be a place for the guitar solo in rock music. Even then the blues solo is evolving. Look at John Mayer and where he's taking his sound. At any rate, phenominal guitar playing, as well as great synth sound, solid drumming and bass section.

Definately one of the best shows I have seen!

Spring's Long Awaited Arrival

The days have gotten longer and sunnier with the cool afternoon north wind. This could only mean one thing, spring has arrived. Although we're still trying to finish up the pruning season, it's kinda tough when there are blossoms flying everywhere. Most of the trees around here have woken up. My plumb tree has flowered and leaved out, the crabapple just blossomed and is awesome! I love the flowers, mowing my lawn twice a week, and just how green all the hills are.

The artist and his masterpiece

Easter Egg Hunting in Rio Dell

This last month I had the... opportunity... to work in Covelo, CA. The town is not much of a town, but I come from not much of a town. The Round Valley is an old dried up lake bed which makes for terrible soils to do underground utility work in, but geographically is amazing. The drive takes you east from Willits, up the middle fork of the Eel River. On the south bank of the river is the county road, the north bank is where the old railroad sits, with three old tunnels, and a couple of massave land slides. There's a climb up a pretty steep grade to "Inspiration Summit" which looks out over the round valley. The valley is massave. If this was still a lake, it could be one of the largest in California. The valley was alive with green grass, blooming mustard and lupin, and dogwoods like crazy. Not to mention the horses stabeled along the highway. The valley is surrounded by Longridge to the north, the Yollo Bolly wilderness to the east, and the Eel River watershead to the west. It could take years to explore all of the backpacking potential in this area.

Good Music

Here's three new-to-me bands that I have not heard until recently. Not that my opinion matters to that many people on the planet, but I enjoyed their stuff. Listen and share....

Skylines and Archives:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=153629310

A very chill sound hiding deeper tones laced throughout the lyrics, heard of these guys through my friend Gretchen. Currently they're tearing up the Minnesota club scene, can you think of any other musicians who came from the great state of Minnesota?

Sarah McMillan:
http://www.sarahmcmillan.com/

If Emmy Lou, Sandra McCracken, and the Edge sat down and wrote an album, this would be it. Lyrically it grabs with words taken from scripture. "He is the rain and I am the desert." Right now "Bright Wings" is probably my favorite.

The Kevin Reid Project:
http://www.myspace.com/thekevinreidproject

Played in Humboldt this weekend, missed both shows, but their Myspace stuff is really good. Lots of good youthfull angst in their sound, lyrically strong. Also, cousin to our local Young Life leader.

I'm not going to start any sort of pretencious music review forum, just like these bands. It's always good to share a good band with your friends so check them out, tell your friends, and buy their stuff!!

March Top 5

Stealing a little inspiration from David Lettermann, this is a top five list for the month of March:

Top Five Songs Played at Unreasonable Volumes:

1. This is Our God; C.Tomlin, appropriately rocked by Gretchen
2. Gravity; John Mayer
3. I will Follow You into The Dark; Death Cab for Cutie
4. King of Mercy; Justin McRoberts
5. Picking Sides; Justin McRoberts

Top Five Cd's in the Truck:

1. Unashamed; Gretchen Ehret
2. Clarity; John Mayer
3. The Photo Album; Death Cab for Cutie
4. Grace Must Wound; Justin McRoberts
5. Undone; Brian and Jenn Johnson

Top Five Reasons to be Joyful:

1. Rach, Max, and Jack!
2. Salvation and the Cross
3. Spring is here
4. Pruning Season is amost done
5. Less than 1 year left in W's term

Top Five Goals for April:

1. Change the brakes in Rachel's car
2. Finis building and hang the kitchen cabinets
3. Take the ICC Structural Concrete test
4. Finish billing HSU
5. Performance reviews for all my crew

When Spider Monkeys Attack!!!

Just one more reason wild animals should not be domesticated.......