My dream last night

I was driving with Stacy in the car. We were driving through a very dark daytime storm. You know those storms that just give you that eerie feeling? Well up ahead, probably a few miles in the distance were 3 tornadoes. I think it was 3. The amount of them is a bit hazy in my brain, but it was more than 1 and less than 5 for sure. Everyone else around us were frantically stopping, making 3 point turns, and driving in the other direction. This is a bit hazy but Stacy was also telling me to turn around. She wasnt' yelling like you would think, just saying what I think was "baby, shouldn't we going the other way??"

I don't know what the inner sybolism was, what it means, etc but...

I would not drive away. This is specifically remember. I smiled at her, chuckled to myself, and said "No way, I know what I'm doing. Trust me! We're doing the right thing going towards them."

You know how in a dream, the thing you always remember most is the emotion or feeling you are feeling? I had this overwhelming feeling of comfort. I can't remember ever feeling so comforted in my whole life, like being an infant again. I felt no immediate danger, no temerity in my decision. Perhaps this is how I live my life already anyway, I should have stayed asleep for the ending result.

But like faith, I don't need to.

Your house is on fire...

"You wake up in the morning, your paint's peeling, your curtains are gone, and the water is boiling. Which problem do you deal with first?"

I feel like so many people I meet live their life this way. Maybe that's not fair, I guess the description would be that they chooose their perspective to be this way. It's unnerving on many levels, especially if you're into politics...but I shan't go there.

Whatever happened to fighting your demons head on? Whatever happened to being absolutely up front with people? I can't tell you how many "professionals" from different walks of life I've met who don't have the stones to do the adult thing at any given moment of any day. Beyond that, people just try and find shortcuts, or strange solutions to obvious problems. Giving examples would be patronizing to anyone who actually reads this, so I'm going to happily assume you know the sort of things I'm referring to.

Now I'm not saying I fix everything in my life. Please. I'm just under the illusion that anything has easy fixes.

Ever the less obvious...

You can't fix tiny details on a house that's burning down. You have to put out the fire. The details come later.

Well it's been a long time comin'...

I feel like the stranglehold has been lifted. I have never stopped playing guitar, but sometimes I don't connect it away from rehearsal/stage. It's been hard to play at home the last year or so. There's a few reasons.

Main one- I really do hate my job, THAT much. For those who haven't done it or worked there, it's hard to explain. It numbs me to the point of apathy in my whole life. It sucks. Tonight I was watching the "Crossroads" festival with Stacy...Normally not her cup of tea exactly, but she enjoyed watching it with me and finally opened up with: "Hmm, wow, Jonny lang is sexy." I approve of this. Then it dawned on me that she sees me this way too. I guess that was enough, I opened up. I can't wait to play tomorrow.

haven't written in years, this may be rough

Hold the lines
while delve into the waters
of humility and trust.
Wading in the waters
that have not yet been troubled,
I step on the stones
that have been tiptoed before.
There is a freedom in the imperfections
and the struggle of riverbed.
Slowing down the river now,
bruising my feet in my journey,
I find not a soul to be shaken,
not a weight to be lifted,
only a slap to the gifted,
saying awake from your slumber.

Rise and Rise again until lambs become lions

I've fallen down many times living in Nashville. Nothing embodies the struggle of life and how I feel about my journey better than that quote. Rise and rise again until lambs become lions. I've had my heart broken many times in different facets of my life. That seems to be a thing all the past. I've been kicked in the face basically any angle you look at it.

Maybe it's true what my mom always said about me. I was the happiest, most full of joy boy in the world. Maybe that disposition has kept me going all this time. Or maybe I just watched "Rudy" too many times and was too stubborn to go home.

I'm not going to hide from it anymore. My next battle is with my weight. I don't plan on losing this one either.

Rise and Rise again until lambs become lions.

Riding the high, let's chase it.

After a pretty long trek home, we are all I think still soaking in the absolutely wonderful weekend we just experienced. I could say so many things about this that I'm sure all are running through everyone's minds. We have something special. There are good bands out there, and there are good people out in the world. However I am willing to put my heart into the statement that there are not a lot of musicians/bands/artists who have and are both. I have never worked with a better group of musicians, and I have also never had such good friends. Part of maximizing our potential, is taking our bond and building on it and growing with it. Like all things, what you do outside of your vocation affects your vocation. It's a beautiful symbiotic circle when you pour yourself into it.

There's no reason at all, that this doesn't work in our favor. Just play and feel with your heart inside the music and out, and every single one of us will feed off of each other for our entire careers. .

Erin, our shining star and point forward (for my fellow NBA fans) I think I can speak for all of us in saying there's not a better singer and person to work with as a figure head and spectacle. You're talented, and beautiful. When I say beautiful, I refer to your heart, we all know you're beautiful on the outside.

Boys: EJ, Andy, Adam...We are lions. Let us remain humble but confident and we will be who we want to be. We will be remembered and talked about. Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.

Stacy: I'll tell you later :)
Great weekend, great weekend.

Ichigo Ichie

Ichigo Ichie means "one time, one meeting." Meaning an opportunity for experience that will never come again. Today my friends, we revel in this. This is one day, and our Cain's Ballroom show. We are very excited and despite Erin's voice being very aggravated by allergies and sinuses (my eyes are watering like crazy, allergies are bad today!) we will bring what we do to the table. We are always trying to master our craft, be better, be more our true selves. We are always striving for virtuosity.

The funny thing about that word, virtuosity, is that people tend to define is as amazing playing. A consummate mastery of musical technique and artistry. Looked over, is the word "virtue" in the word. When one plays music and art, it's usually a collaboration and sharing of expression. May we always remember that true virtuosity is how you play with other people, treat people, and treat yourself.

Let's play.