Excitement Abounds

Most of my days revolve around thinking about Jack. More later, but there are other things that've gotten me excited as of late.

1. All Things NPR

• Best Shows: "Wait, Wait" , "This American Life", "All Things Considered", "All Songs Considered", and the recently discovered "Live Concerts from All Songs Considered" (podcast editions of the last two). The amazing thing to me is that that the later two actually talk about music (meaningful music that isn't Nickelback) in a very interesting way (or there's this site for a meaningful way). And the live concerts - fugedaboutit. They are amazing. And free. And amazing.

2. Impending Football

• The Colts went to training camp today. And fantasy football talk is beginning to rear its nicotine-like head. A buzz I'd rather not wait for. Although, to complain for but a moment, it's absolutely absurd that the Patriots (who are evil, and who went 18-0 last year) have, literally, statistically the easiest schedule in the NFL. A world gone wrong.
  

3. Olympic Buildup

• Just two weeks away. Watching the trials got me excited. Listening to the Olympic Fanfare and other related music (thank you John Williams) is exciting. I not-so-secretly hope that Jack is born on 8/7 so that I'll be home with him during the bulk of the Games. Here's to hoping.

4. New Music

• Along with the Free Samplers with my Paste magazine, recent ablums include: Sara Groves, William F. Gibbs, Micah Dalton, Rufus Wainwright.

And, if you read this blog, there's a decent chance you'll care when Stacey and I head to the hospital in the next month or so. If you'd like to stay up to date and keep tabs: Baby Bouse Blog.

Generic Title

So obviously, things have been busy. I doubt they'll slow down until mid-August, but only to become a different type of busy then. Here's what consumes most of my time these days:

• Work - Lots of shows and rehearsals, an increasing number of meetings, and mental gymnastics/struggles (good ones, I think)
• Home - Getting ready for the baby! We're under 5 weeks to go and I cannot wait (really, if he came out tomorrow, I'd be terribly excited). We're halfway through baby classes. His room is all-but-done. Stacey is doing wonderful; a gracious (if not resilient) mother-to-be.
  
• Leisure - Just finished reading Into the Wild. Half through Dreams from My Father and The Omnivore's Dilemma. This past weekend included an 11 mile trip down the not-so-White River. Good fun, beautiful weather. And then there's always keeping up to do with the Obama/McCain circus.

And the free Coldplay song from their site was a delightful and surprising treat. Maybe better than anything on the new album? Maybe, just maybe.

Note - There will be a new blog popping up soon, to share the joy of Jack's arrival. Be on the lookout.

Photos

It's been a while since I put some photos up. Here are some recent ones that I found laying around - quite a variety too.

Booked Solid

I've recently come into quite a few new books. I've also started reading some of them (what an Idea!). But I find myself mostly overwhelmed with how much I want to read - a good place to find yourself I suppose. Unfortunately, here's the long list of books I've only recently gotten from good ole Paperbackswap and have yet to read (this isn't even all of them):

• Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis by George Sayer
• The Meaning of Sports: Why Americans Watch Baseball, Football, and Basketball by Michael Mandelbaum
• On Becoming Baby Wise by Bucknam and Ezzo
• Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest by Beck Weathers
• Does God Have a Future?: A Debate on Divine Providence by John Sanders
• Cold Mountain by Charles Fraizer
• Jihad vs. McWorld: How Tribalism and Globalism Reshaping the World by Benjamin Barber
• Lake Wobegon Summer 1956 by Garrison Keilor
• On the Road by Jack Kerouac
• A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
• Nickle and Dimed: On (not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

On top of that, here are a few I've picked up myself or been gifted:

• Dreams of My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
• Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (started reading last night)
  
• The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan (I have read half of this one)

Other books I am currently reading, picked up and read the intro to, have picked through:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
  
• The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence by John Sanders
• Simply Christian by N.T. Wright

I have gotten better at finish ones I start. Here are my most recents:

• Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
• Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
• A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright
• The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash by Dave Urbanski
• The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

Is it possible to have too much access to books and information? I'm not sure. All of these, plus I have three magazine subscriptions (Paste, Relevant, and National Geographic). Add on reading I do for and at work. Then consider all the music I buy and listen to, the podcasts subscriptions I have (eight at last count).

Really, this is a lot of media and information. Too much?

A Letter of Concern

Dear You-Know-Who-You-Are,

I'm struggling. Truth be told, after a few go-arounds with you, I just don't know if I'll be able to muster up good feelings towards your offerings. Where's the you I knew and loved? If that's you, if that's truly you hidden somewhere in the caterwauling in the midst of Viva la Vida, well, then please just step out and reveal yourself, because except for here and there (far too sparsely), I can't seem to find you. I'd've preferred it that you just stand up and be yourself. Much appreciated.

Adam