Mercy Buckets

Day 30 - Happy birthday!!

2008-10-17T20:02:00.004-04:00

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Well, today has been just as busy as the last few days! Happy one month birthday to Mercy Buckets! A lot is happening right now, and the blog and comic will be taking on a whole new look and schedule starting this Monday!

So stay tuned!

Day 29 - The frame.

2008-10-16T22:23:00.007-04:00

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I didn't arrive home tonight until around one in the morning--building giant things takes up a lot of time. The show on Saturday is taking over my life right now. Blogs will be short until after the weekend.

Day 28 - Exausted artist.

2008-10-15T23:30:00.005-04:00

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Comic is up, but let me tell you, I reeeaaally didn't feel like blogging tonight when I got home from work. So I didn't. One month anniversary for Mercy Buckets is coming fast. Get stoked!

Day 27 - Dream design.

2008-10-14T23:56:00.000-04:00

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Okay, so All Ships At Sea's myspace is coming along AMAZINGLY. I'm trying a whole new type of design, and even though it's only 80% completed, I will give you loyal blog readers a sneak peek over at my test myspace. Remember, none of the links in the top or side DIVs have been programmed yet, so don't complain that "nothing works"--cause it's not done yet. Anyway, check it out -- http://www.myspace.com/jareemabdulkabbar

First, I'd like to say that you should read yesterday's post RIGHT NOW! I'm saying this because way more happened yesterday than today, and I know when I delinquently post a day late, most of you don't read anything but the latest blog. At least I assume you don't. ALSO, I'm sticking with the short post method because I think it helps keep these daily bloggings less daunting for me--now that I'm losing so much time to work.

Today's first surprise came when my brother's car started emitting a HORRIBLE rattling noise. I watched from my window as my brother walked in and out of the house two or three times trying to diagnose the problem. I feel sorry that his car is broken again, more so because of how expensive my car was to fix--I'm empathizing. It's one of those stupid things too, where it was fine the night before, but suddenly, out of nowhere, a part falls off or something breaks. I drove him over to work and discovered that Alex's friend Sean works there too. I guess most of Alex's church works at Target.

I've been mulling over an idea about starting a design and marketing company, specifically to target the music industry, with some friends of mine. One of them is Zeb, a guy from Illinois who does SICK graphic artwork. His stuff can be seen at his website -- http://www.zeblove.net. The other guy is Ben, who I met over at Marist on Saturday. He worked for Tooth & Nail for a while. I spoke to both of them a little bit about it today, and each of them is interested. I would be the creative director. Zeb would do art direction. And Ben would be marketing director and PR. At first I thought Ben knew a lot about web development, and could be the lead developer for websites. Unfortunately, I was mistaken, and he's really only worked on the back-end of websites--content management and such. However, he does have a lot of good music industry connections, and brought up some excellent marketing ideas that I never thought of. He definitely would be the best person to do the talking for the company.

However, what this leaves us with is four-thirds of what we need to get off the ground. Unless we can find someone who is proficient and EXPERIENCED in HTML, CSS, PHP, Flash ActionScript, and Javascript, we're not going to be able to properly get things off the ground. Sure I can code Myspaces and make nice websites. But being able to create a website that a client could manage on their own once the project is completed is the HARD part. I'm keeping my eyes open for someone DIY, perhaps self-taught, who loves the "hardcore" side of the music industry that we'd be targeting at first. Zeb and Ben are keeping their eyes open as well. I know the idea is far fetched, but being my own boss and working on the creative side of things with bands and labels is something I'd really love doing. It's why I wanted to work at Tooth & Nail doing A&R. But I could see myself being even happier doing this.

Please pray that God gives me some direction and provides the fourth person, if this is really something He want's us to do. Zeb and Ben are both Christians, and that kind of environment would make for a really cool company.

For examples of the kind of company we'd want to be, look here:

http://www.monumentstudio.com

http://www.asterikstudio.com

Unfortunately, I did not get around to Bible studying today. Coding the myspace was my prime focus--although Lindsey did motivate me to fix up my resume and apply to some jobs after dinner. I'm glad I did too. My resume is looking a little more sleek and interesting now, and I fixed some confusing things, and generally just streamlined it so that I can use it to apply to pretty much any position--marketing, public relations, sales, booking, etc.

Early work in the morning, so let me know your thoughts, and I'll try not to be so late with things tomorrow.

Day 26 - Asking for trouble.

2008-10-13T22:34:00.009-04:00

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Lindsey and Patrick both suggested I keep my blog posts shorter. I guess it's easier to read them when they're not six or seven paragraphs. So, I'm going to take that advice and try to choose only one or two things each day to talk about in detail.

Today's comic comes straight out of actual events at Michaels. I guess Columbus Day is a big shopping holiday, sort of like Black Friday and Memorial Day. Needless to say, Michaels was totally hoppin' when I got in this afternoon. I like working in the morning better than in afternoon and evening, and I'll tell you why. If I work in the morning, I am required to get up early, and I usually get out at a reasonable hour--that means lots of time left to do things after work. It's the opposite with a closing shift. I will wake up late, and only have one or two hours to do things before work. Then work goes so late, I practically have no time to do anything afterward.

Except write this blog, of course!

Anyway, back to the story. It was very busy during the daytime, and I got stuck running cash register because someone called out--no fun at all! But once it got dark, the store turned into a total graveyard. There were NO customers. Very boring, and you should know, when I get bored at Michaels I think of STUPID things to do. I had to cover Melissa's break in the frame shop, and proceeded to sit around and send text messages on my phone for what became an hour and a half lunch for her (no joke). When Melissa and Jess finally got back from their LONG break, it was almost time for the store to close. It was around this time, I made a wonderful discovery! In the Michael's frame shop, there are thin slots under the work tables where the artwork is stored in sleeves before it gets framed. Behind these slots is a pretty big crawl space. Naturally, in my boredom, I asked the question, "Hey! Can I fit through these slots and hide in the crawl space?" The answer, by the way, is YES!

Melissa thought it was SO funny that she called Claudio, the assistant manager, to the shop, pretending that there was a problem. Once Claudio got close to the work table I was hiding in, I stuck my arm out and grabbed his leg--proceeding to scare the daylights out of him. Hilarious! Actually, the whole adventure was very fulfilling--right up until the point where I had to get OUT of the crawl space. Let me tell you what, getting in was a LOT easier than getting out. It's kind of like the kid who sticks his finger in the seatbelt hole. It goes in fine, but then it doesn't come out.

By the way, the whole seatbelt thing happened to me too. When I was in second grade.

When I got home, I finally started the coding part of All Ship At Sea's myspace. I will hopefully have something cool to show you guys by tomorrow.

Otherwise, I've been slacking off a LOT when it comes to my Bible studying. I've still not gotten past the first three chapters in the book of Mark with my notes. Luckily, Patrick has been keeping me on focus, and I'll definitely be able to do some tomorrow. I've got a lot of other things on my plate this week as well. I need to build a 10x20 white screen for the show on Saturday, as well as promote some more to make sure we have a good turnout. It's The Comeback Tour's last show--so it's gotta go off without a hitch!

Please be praying that it does!

Day 25 - The Mac side.

2008-10-12T19:21:00.003-04:00

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I'm at the Ferretti's as I write part of this blog. I've been helping Dustin set up his new MacBook. He got it used for a GREAT price, and I'm glad that someone other than me has switched over. I'm sure Lindsey is sitting in a chair somewhere like Dr. Claw, laughing evilly!

I never understood why the bad guy in Inspector Gadget was called Dr. Claw. He's doesn't really have a claw, it's more like a glove! Shouldn't he be Dr. Glove? I guess that doesn't really strike fear into the heart of your enemies.

"Oh no, it's Dr. Glove!"

"Yeah, so? What's he gonna do, make me some Hamburger Helper?"

This morning was probably the most fun I've had in a long time with the praise-band at church. We played really well, and one woman even came up to me after the first service and told me that she really felt the Holy Spirit moving when we were playing. It was really humbling. Lindsey and I almost missed the beginning of the second service when we went upstairs to eat Panera goodies in the church loft. Libby Brosia came upstairs to do some reading and was shocked to see us. She said that we only had about a minute left before the service started--we ran down with food still in our mouths. I got up on stage with a cherry pastry in my hand.

Jon Sadowitz was also very encouraging, and said that he thinks it connects well with all the members of the church when I lead because I'm so young. It's sad to me that the idea of a young person earnestly praising God would be weird and refreshing for someone. I think my greatest experiences worshiping God have definitely been with other young people. Actually, the most recent ones have been at Christian hardcore shows. I definitely know that Jon is right, though--I don't see a lot of earnest worship from the youth at our church on Sundays. At Valley, the worship time is only 15 minutes long, and I think that young people benefit from longer times of worship and reflection. In my experience, playing longer sets for Valley youth at lock-ins or camp is when I've really seen the greatest amount of sincerity from them. I'm not saying that young people in my church or other churches don't come to meet God on Sundays, I just feel like we don't put down our defenses for long enough during a 15 minute worships set to let God break our hearts.

This weekend has been full of naps. Once again, after church, Lindsey and I took a nap. I know it's because we stay up too late when she's up for the weekend. We just want to see each other as much as we can before she heads back down to the city for the week. We woke up around 3:20pm in a frenzy, since Lindsey's train was at 3:43pm. Luckily for both of us, Lindsey went back to my house and packed up her things during the second service, so all we had to do was jump in the car and go. She JUST made it on time. God is good!

Afterward, I got a call from Dustin to come over to his parent's house and help him set up his new MacBook. It's almost the exact same one as mine, except it only has 1 gig of RAM. Mind you, I'm not computer savvy at ALL, and knowing that 2 gigs of RAM is better than one is about as knowledgeable as I get. Still, it's a totally sweet computer, and it's been really nice to hang out with the Ferretti's. They're inviting me to stay for dinner; however my mother is making Quinoa Chilli today (inspired by Lindsey), and we've got Lasagna too. So I'm going to head home and come back later to jam with Dustin, Joe, and Mike Sr.

Today's post will be short, but I'm catching up anyway. So you've gotta take what you can get!

Day 24 - Soul Dog.

2008-10-11T23:59:00.007-04:00

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I drew today's comic on a placemat at Soul Dog in Poughkeepsie with some crayons that were on the table. Adam suggested I go there sometime, and I thought it would be a GREAT place to bring Lindsey. It was! They have amazing hotdogs and lots of vegan options too--which is rare around here. Can you say Quinoa chilli!?

It was hard to wake up this morning, and even a show with The Comeback Tour didn't motivate me to get out of bed the first few times the alarm went off. Alex gave me a call while I was literally stepping in to the shower to tell me he'd be over at my house with the van in less than an hour to pick up the equipment. Lindsey and I followed him over to Marist in my car so that we could head out early, after our set was over.

Normally I like to stay for the whole show when we play, and Alex told me later that the other bands were actually pretty good. The major reason for choosing to bust out early was that Lindsey and I had many many plans for the day--and the show was a last minute addition anyway. Let me tell you what, it was BEAUTIFUL outside when we got to Marist. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, the birds were singing. You get the picture.

I think the early highlight of today was meeting a guy named Ben at Marist. He's from Rochester, and is dating one of Jesse's friends. Ben worked at Tooth & Nail in Seattle this summer as an intern--and helped them overhaul their website--so we had a lot to talk about. Ben is in the same boat as me, a music industry guy with plenty of talent and connections, but no real leads on jobs he's specifically qualified for. However, luckily for him (and me), a guy in the Tooth & Nail office has been sending him a few leads about industry job openings, and Ben's promised to forward a lot of those to me as well--many of them are in Journalism and other areas that I'm more suited for. He also had some GREAT stories about living in Seattle. It sounds like a wonderful city to be in.

Our set went well, and even though there really wasn't many people watching, it was fun to rock out with the guys--especially on an outdoor stage. I know Lindsey is always watching us--even when other people aren't--which always makes me feel good. Something weird that happens to me when I'm playing comes from the fact that I usually face more toward the left side of the audience, and so when everyone is standing more toward the right of the stage, I loose everything to my peripheral vision. This can be super disorienting, and was the case at Marist. But, even so, we still did great, and I'm glad we had the chance to play with Jesse one more time before he goes into the Marines.

After the show, Lindsey and I bought some "previously viewed movies" for really cheap at Blockbuster, and then took a nap back at my house. Both of us were feeling very tired from the early show. I love it when Lindsey is up in Poughkeepsie--it really makes my weekends happier. However, I do tend to get little-to-no personal work done when she's up (so forgive the late bloggings--I hope you're still reading them). Going to Soul Dog was the big highlight of the night, and for a place that is located in one of the worst parts of Poughkeepsie, it's actually very clean and nice. The patronage for Soul Dog is also WORLDS apart from the surrounding shops. Afterward, Lindsey and I got some dessert at the Vassar ACDC. It was nice to go back on campus after not seeing it for so long. I used to be there almost every other day, and it's surprising how the primary location for so much of what I did two years ago doesn't make up any of my time now. I miss it. I was there more than my own alma mater.

Speaking of Vassar, was anyone reading this there when we broke onto the roof of the Main building at Vassar? That was three years ago! The summer of 2005 was a legendary time.

Who knew Patrick could actually pick locks?

Day 23 - Work ethic.

2008-10-10T23:42:00.023-04:00

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Being unemployed is an quick way to mess up your sleep cycles. However, my return to Michaels involves unloading trucks that come early in the morning, so I've been discovering all new patterns of "awakeness" I didn't even know existed. I think most people wake-up slowly, and feel better later in the day. I'm the complete opposite--I wake up quickly, but start to lose it just before dinner.

Fridays don't really feel like Fridays when you have to work--and my second day back at Michael's didn't have quite the same charm as the first. Unloading the truck this morning was a big chore, and there was a LOT of freight to unload. Apparently last week's truck never made it to our store (or any of it's stops for that matter), and so this week's truck had twice the shipment. This story behind this is a sad one. You see, early last Friday morning, the driver of the aforementioned "missing" truck pulled over to the side of the highway to check the connections between his big rig and the trailer. He set up safety cones and followed all the protocol to make a proper stop. However, as he was checking on his connections, a drunk driver drifted off the highway and struck the truck driver dead. The drunk driver then proceeded to speed off. This would have been bad enough on it's own, but a couple hours later, ANOTHER drunk driver swerves off the side of the road and smashed into the truck--where the dead truck driver was already laying. The second accident is what brought the police to the scene of the crime.

It's incredible to me that anyone would ever, EVER, drive drunk. It's shows a complete disregard for the lives of countless people. I mean this sincerely--if you drive drunk, you are making one of the most horrendous choices you could ever make. If caring for one another and using our lives to serve others is the way Christ commanded us to live, then disregarding the health and safety of others by driving under the influence of any drug is one of the most un-Christ-like decisions there is. Interestingly, it was the girlfriend of the driver who struck the trucker that eventually turned her boyfriend in. Thank God some people still have decency.

Both drunk drivers were apprehended the next day. I think we should keep the family of the dead truck driver in our prayers. I guess his wife had just given birth to a baby girl not long before the accident.

And now some levity to break up the seriousness of this post:

Ring, ring, ring, BANANARCHY!

I picked up Lindsey at the train station after work, and we went over to the church for praise-band practice. Lindsey is on drums this week, and she is doing AMAZING--she's such a great drummer. Let me tell you, I am SO excited for worship on Sunday morning. We're playing some pretty wonderful songs, and I'm especially stoked about playing the song "I Exalt Thee", since it's one of my favorite worship songs. Things were a little rough to start--it's been a long time since I lead worship by myself--but God has blessed our church with an amazing group of humble musicians who really encourage each other. I especially love playing worship with Dave Eberhart. Dave has the kind of selfless laid-back personality that makes him a really great guy to serve with. Also, whenever I am playing bass, and Pat Farley is leading, I can always look to Dave for a little levity in the middle of the service.

I've been told by my mother that I laugh a little too much when I'm on stage at church. It's most likely because something funny happened that Dave and I noticed, but no one else did. I'm hoping I can overcome my nerves enough on Sunday that I can just worship without distraction. I don't want to be too caught up in the details that I forget that we are there to bring praise to God--and that's the most important thing!

Well, it's getting late, and I've got a long day tomorrow--and an early show at Marist with The Comeback Tour. So until then!

Day 22 - It strikes.

2008-10-09T23:20:00.000-04:00

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I've been taking vitamin A, C, D, and Zinc everyday to keep the dreaded cold bug away from me. We're talking the whole alphabet here people--and yet it still charges at my body with a devilish battering ram of sickly feelings.

Today I finally paid the fee for a "talking on cell phone while driving" ticket that I got back in May, and had this wonderful epiphany: I'm broke.

It seems almost providential that financial struggle would follow the powerful sermon Greg gave this last Sunday on being thankful for how much money we have--and trusting God to provide for our needs in this area. My response to the panicked feeling of financial rock-bottom was to call in favors from some friends who have been asking me to do their new myspace layout. God certainly provides, and by dinnertime, I had a PayPal payment for a new myspace design for All Ships At Sea--a great band from Connecticut--and I'm already halfway done with their site. I should be able to finish it on Monday when I get another few hours of free time. Believe me, it looks BEAST, and I will post a link to it as soon as it's done.

Some other cool news is that Alex, Jesse, and myself will be playing an afternoon show as The Comeback Tour at Marist on Saturday. There is a cancer benefit concert at 2pm on the campus green, and one of the bands dropped. A friend of Jesse's called to ask him if we'd want to play, and my friend Dylan also called to ask the same question. After a little deliberation, and some excitement about playing on a BIG outdoor stage like the last time we played at Marist, we decided to do it. Jesse was EXTRA humble about the whole thing, and checked to make sure I asked Nate if he would want to play before we confirmed. Unfortunately, I still haven't heard back from Nate--but we know Jesse is exciting and willing to play if needed! Another big decision was our choice not to announce the show on The Comeback Tour's Myspace. We want to make sure everyone comes out to the LAST show on October 18th, and we don't need to lose any of that attendance to the show this Saturday. So this weekend is solely about having a good time, and rocking out and fellowshipping for a good cause. It doesn't matter who is there, it's gonna be a TON of fun no matter what happens!

I'm also excited for praise-band practice tomorrow! Lindsey is coming up and playing drums for the service this week--which is awesome. We're playing some great songs, and guess what!? I'm leading the worship on Sunday! If anyone feels like coming out to Valley this Sunday at either 9am or 11am, please do. It would be cool to see some friends there, since it's my first time leading worship at church in a LONG time. In fact, I haven't lead since the Poughkeepsie and Hopewell churches reintegrated--so I've been looking forward to this.

Well, it's getting late, and I need to get up early for work in the morning!

*cough*

Ohno!

Day 21 - He returns.

2008-10-08T23:59:00.014-04:00

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I'm back at Michaels. The weirdest part is that it feels like I never left.

I'm going to take Lindsey's advice for tonight, and try to keep this blog super short. I worked 8 hours today at Michael's doing the general grunt work I did when I got hired the first time. The only major differences are that everyone knows me this time around, and I have to wear black and khaki.

First, everyone was really excited to see me, so I was particularly talkative today and quickly made friends with anyone who didn't know me from before. I guess Steve asked most of the managers if he should hire me back and all of them said yes--which makes me feel nice. Also, at some point, Amanda told Kathleen that I was working harder today than she's ever seen me work. This is funny because it didn't feel like I was working that hard, which leads me to believe one of two things. Either I was super lazy and didn't work almost at all before I left, or it just seems like I'm working harder because Amanda is glad that I'm back.

Second, there are no more red aprons at Michaels. The only aprons that exist now are black half-aprons that have been dubbed "crotch pockets". However, there ARE black full-aprons that the frame shop employees are supposed to wear. I took Melissa's apron since she wasn't in the shop today, and everyone who saw it was either upset or envious of the fact that I had a full-apron. I guess they are a coveted item, and are on back-order in stores around the country (no joke). Only frame shop workers can get one, which means--even though I tried my hardest to avoid wearing my red apron before the dress-code was instated--I am going to exploit my frame shop connections to get a black full-apron and wear it all the time. Having special things that other people want is part of the fun of working in retail. At Stewart's it was custom name tags. At Barnes & Noble it was a music department position. At Michaels, it's going to be a black apron.

Adam swung by the store around noontime and we got lunch at Giacomo's Express. I didn't realize there WAS a Giacomo's in the same plaza as Michaels--since there is one just off of Route 9 only two minutes away. But who wants to drive on Route 9 to go get lunch. Not me!

My lunchtime horizons have been expanded

When I finally got home, I was mucho exhausted. I was up at 6:30 in the morning today to go to work. I ended up sleeping about three hours after I got back. The rest of the day has been spent in anxiety about getting a REAL job. I know God is calling me to do something awesome for Him, but I have been getting extremely discouraged by the fact that I don't feel 100% qualified for any job I've applied for--except Tooth & Nail. To top it all off, it takes me almost an hour to send out even one resume and cover letter, which really ruins my job-search motivations--I have to tailor each resume and letter to the job I'm applying to. Lindsey really helped me tonight by just encouraging me to streamline the process of applying to jobs, and to not give up hope.

Please pray for me. I want to do something great for the Lord, and I understand that it takes time for God's plans to unfold. I just need direction--and I'm struggling to find an industry job to help build up my resume for something better down the road. Working at Michaels today reminded me of how much I missed working there, but also of how much I don't want to be stuck doing part-time retail.

Day 20 - A four part story

2008-10-07T23:04:00.001-04:00

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I think they should just rename the four gospels, "'Jesus' the Quadrilogy!"

I'll be the first to admit when I have to use a throw-away joke for the comic. However, I am glad to say that I did finish my in-depth study of the book of Matthew today. There are 28 chapters in Matthew, and it took me roughly 20 days to read and take detailed notes on each of them. Although I have been meeting my goal of reading three or four chapters a day in the bible, the fact that not every day is a good day to sit down and dedicate an hour or more to writing notes has kept me from adventuring into the book of Mark. My "meantime" reading has been in Acts.

Something that was really interesting to me in my recent reading is how Jesus prays to God the Father three times in the garden of Gethsemane. Earlier in Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples and followers that we should live righteously, and when we want something, we should persistantly ask God for it, and He will give us what we need. Jesus definitely practiced what he preached. In Gethsemane, Jesus prays three times that if it is possible, there would be another way for him to save and redeem the world--other than a painful trial and brutal death on a cross. I know I often pray to God that the consequences of my wrongdoings would be different. In this case, however, Christ was not being punished for his own wrongdoings--he was perfect--but taking the punishment for the sins of the world. I really believe Jesus was completely human, and totally scared of what was about to happen. But when God told him that this was a burden he had to bear, he did not complain or resist. He did what God asked.

That's the kind of man I want to be--someone who does not resist when things get hard, and when God chooses to correct me through consequence.

I finally got my car inspected today, and after the whole ordeal with bad titles, expensive repairs, and a new inspections--my car is finally 100% road ready. It feels goooood! To celebrate, my car insurance sent me a bill for the next two months of coverage. Needless to say, I cashed in my spare change jar today at the CoinStar in Hannford. Things are getting tight, so it's good that tomorrow is my first day back at Michaels. I'm gonna need a steady paycheck again to keep myself mobile.

Before the car could be properly inspected, I had to drive it about 30 miles at 55 mph or more. This was so that the engine's sensors would reset and realize I didn't have a problem with my EVAP system anymore. It was really nice out today, and I enjoyed some time in the car listening to As Cities Burn and seeing how my Sentra handles on the highways. I'm not happy with how cold the weather has been lately, but it's still the kind of weather where the insides of your car get warmed up by the sun. I can understand how people are getting sick with all this cold-air to warm-car temperature switching. It's like jumping into the jacuzzi after being in the pool. Anyway, to gain the needed milage, I drove from my house to the Taconic Parkway, and then I-84 to the exit before the Newburgh-Beacon bridge, and then back.

Otherwise, today was pretty slow. I spent most of my day at home online, promoting The Comeback Tour's last show--which is in less than two weeks. I think it's probably necessary for me to post this SWEET flyer for the concert on my blog, since I've posted it everywhere else:

I hope that everyone can make it out!

Day 19 - The amazing race.

2008-10-06T23:32:00.027-04:00

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Let's just cut to the meat of today's adventures!

Practice was cancelled tonight in Connecticut because Justin is sick--just like everyone else who got hit hard by sudden drop in temperature.

Alex picked me up around 4:30 this evening so we could go get my car from the shop, and then meet up with Adam over at the Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall. All of the repairs are done on my vehicle, and it's running like new! However, I still need to bring it back in tomorrow to get it inspected--since the car needs to be driven about 30 miles for the sensors to reset and the check engine codes to disappear.

I'm not sure why I agreed to go to the mall to hang out. To be honest, I don't really like being at the mall. It's an oppressive place. Consumerism and homogenization of goods is hard to be around in concentrated doses. Lindsey and I both have gotten panic attacks and migraine headaches from just being at the mall on a crowded day--and I'm definitely not looking forward to Christmas time, and what that does to our local shopping centers. I also hate the idea of being a "townie", and the mall is the most townie place a person can go to hang out. Still, I had a good time with Alex and Adam, and things were pretty slow, since it's Monday.

To explain today's comic--during our adventures, Adam and I noticed an open service door in the food court. I challenged him and Alex to a race down the corridor, but Alex declined. It didn't matter, though, because 30 seconds later Adam and I were running down the hall and out into the parking lot via a cargo entryway. The notion of getting in trouble for going places we weren't supposed to go didn't really mean anything until we saw a security truck waiting on the other side of the exit. Luckily no one was in it, or we might have gotten--I dunno--a stern talking to? Maybe a fine scolding? I'm not really sure what the jurisdiction of a mall security officer is. However, I do remember being shadowed by a security officer once when I was 17. Dustin, Eric, and I went to Danbury late at night to see a movie, totally forgetting that there is no movie theater at the Danbury Mall--we got harassed for walking around the parking lot late at night, looking for the theater entrance.

But that's a story for another night.

The highlight of today was how much time I spent focusing on God and His graciousness to me! Let me give you the rundown.

After the mall, I went with Alex to "guy's bible study" over at his friend Nick's house. It was a GREAT experience. There were only four guys there tonight, other than me--Gabe, Alex, Nick, and Patrick. It started with Alex leading worship, followed by some honest prayer time. After worship, Nick turned out the lights and we all just spoke and prayed about what was on our hearts. We asked God to continue to build up our relationships with Him, and to help us overcome our sins and mistakes. I really felt like the heart of the prayer tonight was about living a life where we are humble, so that Christ can be exalted. If we were jars of water, we'd want to empty ourselves out so that God could fill us up with His love and goodness! Not only was the worship and prayer time incredible, but there was also dinner waiting for us when we got to the house! And it was gooood.

When I got home, I got even more bible study time, talking to Lindsey about the gospel of Matthew, and what it means to be holy! "Holiness" means being like God. God loves us unconditionally and without expectation--and he gave his son Jesus to die for us. So we are called, in response, to be holy like God--to love others unconditionally and without expectation in the same way God does! Unexpectedly, in the middle of my conversation with Lindsey, I got a strange phone call. It was Patrick from The Gear--a venue in Franklin, Indiana.

I only talked briefly with Pat when we played at The Gear this summer, but I guess he kept my number in his phone. Even though he was initially calling to see what The Comeback Tour's tour plans were for the winter, we ended up talking and praying about some anxieties that he's been having since he moved to Springfield, Missouri to go to college. I can't thank God enough that he's used The Comeback Tour to build lasting relationships with so many people all around the country--and it was humbling to have Pat tell me that our band was one of the few "genuine" bands he's ever met. I know it's only because of God working through us that we are any good at all.

The last highlight of the night was talking to my good friend John Ardrey. John is a great guy, who really loves Christ. We went to high-school together, but we sort of lost touch once I got to college. He's the one who carried on the "band geek" legacy after I left for school. I'm hoping we can talk more often now that we're back in touch. I'll be praying that we do.

"The froth is the best part! And this is like PURE FROTH!"

God really showed himself to me today, and used my time fellowshiping and praying with others to break my heart and help me see Him more clearly. Now I just need continue to TRUST that He has everything under control--which is always the difficult next step to a day like today!

Day 18 - After these messages.

2008-10-05T23:37:00.019-04:00

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My late-night snack of choice involves putting bread slices into something called a toaster. Two or three minutes later, you get something so much better than what you put into the toaster in the first place. Apply butter liberally--or jam, as you see fit.

I slept today. I mean it, I slept a LOT today, which explains why it's technically Monday while I post this. When someone says the Sabbath is a day of rest, I want to agree with them the best way I know how--by sleeping away the afternoon. Lindsey and I took a cat nap that turned into a ferocious lion nap after we got back from her haircut.

Church was incredible this morning, and Greg's message about "How To Be Rich", was really eye opening. Do you realize if you make $42k or more a year, you're in the wealthiest one percent of the entire world. What a reality check. Did you also know that one of the presidential candidates gave 21% of their income to charity last year. I'll tell you the answer at the bottom of the blog--and you'll be surprised who it is.

Greg's sermon was about being happy with what we already have, and serving God with the money and gifts He has entrusted us with. Christ says in Matthew that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to inherit the Kingdom of God. The "eye of a needle" Jesus refers to was a narrow gate in Jerusalem that could be monitored and kept open at all times, but that a camel would have to shimmy on it's knees to get through if it was allowed to enter. I realize how much I value my possessions and how often I feel like I'm not making enough money, instead of trusting God and thanking him for what he's provided for me. Even though I am jobless right now, God is providing, and I should be thanking Him for such amazing financial provisions even now.

Being on tour is a great time to realize how much you need God's provision--especially financially. The Comeback Tour makes it a point not to spend any of our own money on tour needs, like food or gas. We have to trust God that he will provide the kind of finances we need to make it from one show to the next. I'm happy to boast about God's wonderfulness, and the fact that this last tour in July we went into the red, but were back in the black by the end of the tour. It was stressful for a time, but we prayed that God would be our provider, and He came through. We made over $50 in merch sales every night of the tour after Cornerstone--even when the other bands couldn't sell even one CD. We were truly blessed.

Aside from church and napping, I had to fix some wiring issues with the back left-turn signal on my car before I dropped it off to get it repaired and inspected. On our way to church this morning, I noticed that my left-turn arrow was clicking really fast. Lindsey suggested it was a dead bulb, and she was right. It turns out that water was getting into the light compartment of the back left-turn signal, and the whole socket was rusted out. Luckily, some electrical ingenuity and a quick trip to AutoZone for a new bulb solved the problem. However, not before I had to deal with all kind of sticky gunk that has been building up on the wiring harness in the trunk. How do things get so dirty--especially when they're not outside the car? I also got some touch up paint that matches my car's finish. This is good, because my dad decided he wanted to touch up a few scratches on my car without telling me first, and used the wrong color paint. Now I can get everything looking even.

The last surprise for today was bumping into Tommy from church at the New Hamburg train station when I was dropping Lindsey off. Tommy plays bass and sings for the service occasionally, and we all stood around and talked about music for a while. I guess him and Lindsey talked for the whole train ride down as well. Tommy is going to be out on tour for the next few weeks singing with some pretty important musicians and artists, so keep him in your prayers. I guess he was also very interested in jamming sometime with Lindsey and myself. I'm really excited about that possibility as well. It's always awesome to fellowship with other musicians, and it'll be good to get to know another member of my church family a little better.

Speaking of fellowship with other musicians, I'm going to be jamming with Justin from Elotheos Monday night--I'm super excited. After a lot of pensiveness, him and Dave finally decided that they want to work on a side-project with me. God is good, and I'm praying for a productive and worshipful time! So I better get some rest now, so I'm not feeling groggy on my way over there tomorrow. So until then!

BTW, It was McCain.

Day 17 - Artificial butter.

2008-10-04T23:29:00.019-04:00

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The best comics I write for this blog come from my daily conversations. I LIKE artificial butter--I think it's the best part of movie popcorn. Also, a large popcorn at the Silver Cinema costs more than a movie for two.

If I'm lucky, most of you have been just as busy as I have been this weekend, and you're missing the fact that I'm posting the blog for today (October 4th) at night on Sunday (October 5th). Don't worry, I will be posting a blog and comic specifically for Sunday in a few hours--I just don't want to lose the rhythm of every day updates. I'll assume you are all reading about my weekend at work on Monday and it doesn't make a difference anyway.

Today was a LOT of fun. Lindsey came out on a late train last night so that she could get her haircut early. However, neither of us woke up until after noon, so "early" isn't really the right word to describe how the day has actually gone. In fact, in the end, Lindsey was not even able to get a haircut today--and had to schedule with the hairdresser for tomorrow after church.

We didn't let this change in plans ruin anything, and after a nice lunch at Mother Earth (a whole foods store near the mall--you'd be surprised at some of the delicious things you can get there) we decided to go see a dollar movie. The pick was "Step Brothers" and let me tell you, this movie was AWFUL. I'm sure at some point, most of you have seen the preview for this movie--Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly play 40 year old step brothers who still live with their parents. Hijinks ensue involving such things as karate chopping pumpkins and home made rap videos.

I'll be honest, the movie was funny for the first two acts. Going to a Will Ferrell movie, you can't expect a bulletproof script and Oscar winning performances (unless we're talking about Stranger than Fiction, which is the ultimate foil to any Ferrell movie)--the dick and fart jokes are part of the reason you go in the first place. However, the third act of the movie tanked in a way I would have never imagined. Not only did the ending leave enormous plot holes, even for a dumb comedy, but the characters went through the most contrite and ridiculous changes at the last possible moment. Yes, at one point the brothers do grow up and become real adults--but it's only so that they can be encouraged to return to their idiotic childishness by the end of the film. The ending is the deux ex machina to end all duex ex machinas. Let me give you a hint, it involves opera singing and lumberjacks. I knew the ending would be stupid, but I was hoping for something more Billy Madison-esque.

Miss this one. You'll never get your two hours back.

Afterward, Lindsey and I went back to my house and continued our movie watching with "What Dreams May Come"--which, although not the best script ever, is a visually stunning and totally heart touching film. The movie was made in 1998, around the same time as "The Matrix", and so like most movies that year, got dwarfed by the perpetual hype. However, "What Dreams May Come" got the last laugh when it, deservingly, won the academy award for best visual effects that year. This is a 10 year old movie that looks better than most movies made today. The depiction of hell in the third act is incredible, very Dante's Inferno. The film is kind of a Jurassic Park--it won't ever stop looking good. In my opinion movies have become TOO digital these days, which is why Jurassic Park holds so strong--most of the dinosaurs were animatronic. Nothing looks more real than something REAL!

And that's the way it was!

Oh but before I go, I need to ask if any of you guys watch "The Office"? Lindsey and I watched the season premier this weekend, and MAN, I'm so glad the show is back on. I care about the characters, and that's the sign of a good TV show. More on my bible studies and cool band-related news in tomorrow's post!

Day 16 - New kicks.

2008-10-03T23:59:00.005-04:00

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Even though I haven't had a steady income for over a month now, I've still bought more clothing in that time than I have in the last year or more. I don't know what's prompted my desire to buy new things. It could be the simple fact that everything I own and wear is getting pretty worn out--no pun intended. The only disappointment with new things is wanting people to see them. Being stranded at home doesn't help.

I woke up before my alarm today, at around 9:20 in the morning, and I just couldn't manage to get back to sleep. Normally, if I wake up this early, my body commands me to return to a state of slumber until at least noon--not so this time around. In fact, this isn't the first time in the last week or two where I just couldn't manage to get back to sleep, even though I didn't go to bed until around four-o-clock in the morning. I think it's the sudden drop in temperature.

Being up early, in my opinion, is the best way to start a productive day. However, on a Friday, any concept of productivity goes completely out the window--just by default. It's amazing I even realized it was Friday today, but a call from Steve at Michael's helped establish a reasonable time frame in my otherwise timeless state of unemployment. I have hours at work next week, and Lindsey bought me a black polo shirt and some khaki colored corduroy pants so that I can at least reasonably meet the store's new dress code policies. The shirt is a little grey, and the pants aren't technically khakis, but I'm hoping Steve overlooks these issues and just lets me slide. It's hard to find khaki pants that I'd even be comfortable working in. If you recall, I like my pants to fit tight.

Spent some time hanging out with Dustin and Chris tonight. Adam invited me to see a movie, but I can never pass up an opportunity to spend some time with the guys. It's been a while since I've gotten to talk to Chris, and today I FINALLY got to see his new house in Wappingers. He and Nikki are really blessed, and I had to mention that the bannisters in their home are going to be picture perfect for Christmas time--when the kids come out of their rooms to see the presents downstairs. Wii is a good way to pass time with friends, and it was nice to see Nikki and Lena before I left to pick up Lindsey at the train station.

Speaking of which, I've got a wonderful girl waiting for me to finish this blog, so I think I'll stop here, and fill you in on the rest tomorrow!

God bless and goodnight!

Day 15 - Contact lenses.

2008-10-02T23:10:00.031-04:00

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Lately, putting in my contacts has been the most horrendous experience. Every morning I need to work up the courage to put these little plastic pieces of death into my eyes. I don't know when my eyes got so sensitive to them, and I'm guessing this is a sign to not wear them for a few weeks. But I just hate wearing glasses so much!

Today, I spent about four hours hanging out at Wendy's and Starbucks with Alex's new band, "The Here And Now", going over their record contract and helping them draft a new one. It was a LOT of fun spending time with them, and I get along with his band-mates really well. It's surprising to me how much I know about copyright law, and the way record companies work, just from a few different music industry internships. I think the biggest surprise was reading over the 32 page contract and ACTUALLY understanding it. I've got the tons of contracts I had to read at The Agency Group to thank for that.

The guys asked me to help manage their band, but I had to decline. I want to be a good friend and help them get off the ground, but I've had such bad experiences trying to self-book tours for Renae and Love Begotten, that I'd like to stay away from independent management of any kind for a little while. It's discouraging when you can't live up to the expectations of those relying on you, especially when it comes to things like booking shows. I'm willing to aid Alex's band in any way I can, but I can't take the responsibility right now of making sure their band is properly represented. I'm going to be praying about it, though.

For now, I think it's better to just be the willing servant instead.

So, Lindsey revealed the big surprise today! Her and a small crew from East Pleasant Studios will be coming to film a live music video for The Comeback Tour at our last show on October 18th! AMAZING! It's crazy how many good things are happening for us right now, especially right as we decide to finish up as a band. Lindsey and the crew will be using two big fancy HD cameras, as well as gaffing and filming our whole set. Then they will compile the clips into a music video for one of our songs (I'm guessing it will be "The Blood Letter")! I implore any of you who have seen our band before--or even thought about seeing us--to come out to this show. It's on a Saturday night, so I know you full-time weekday employees will definitely be off. And this may very well be the LAST time The Comeback Tour ever performs. So don't miss it!

God is so good to me lately. I mean, I know God is ALWAYS good to me, but I feel like my time spent studying the Bible recently has really helped me recognize just how good God is on a daily basis! My biggest prayer request is that God gives me direction in the coming months. Please be praying for Patrick as well. He and Desiree have an amazing opportunity in front of them right now, and they need some provision. If we come together and ask God for what we want, he will always provide what we need!

Jehova Jireh! Be our daily provision, and give us pure hearts that see your great works in our lives.

Day 14 - Answering machine.

2008-10-01T22:21:00.021-04:00

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I think this comic needs a little bit of explaining. You see, Lindsey works unusual hours at her job in Manhattan, but we still manage to talk pretty frequently throughout her work day. Often times, Lindsey and I will start a conversation while she's at work that takes hours to finish due to the many interruptions that happen on both ends. Sometimes one conversation will span any number of different communication mediums: AIM, telephone, text message, and other less conventional means...

Speaking of Lindsey, she's been planning some kind of BIG surprise for the weekend of October 17th. I'm excited to know what it is--and she assures me I will be very pleased--but I am also a little worried about the timing, since it falls on the same weekend as The Comeback Tour's last New York show (and possibly our last show ever). All I know about the surprise is that I need to have my car, and that I need to come down on both October 17th AND October 19th. That's a LOT of travel and events for one weekend. Please pray that Steve, my boss at Michaels, is understanding about my taking a whole weekend off from work on my second week back. If I'm lucky, my name and number will already be in the computer, and I won't even have to talk to him directly about it--otherwise it's gonna be hell telling him I've gotta miss a few days, especially since he's VERY wary of my "time off practices" from the last time I worked there.

Today, I finally got the estimate for car repairs I've been dreading. It looks like the solenoid in the EVAP system is messed up, which is what we expected--since it happened to my brother's Sentra as well. That's a $400 fix, but it didn't stop there. I guess the carbon container is also rotting out, and I gotta get that replaced as well. That's another $300 fix added on top. God is good to me, and my dad said he would pay for the carbon container, but $400 is still a big hit. So, I'm going to have to seriously cut back on my hang-outs and spending for the next few weeks. I've managed not to spend too much money since I quit The Agency Group back in August, but I also haven't have a car for a while. Not surprisingly, right after getting a car, I'm tackled by an outrageous amount of new expenses.

It's funny, being unemployed and without a car is a lot like being 16 years old again. You do a lot of things you wouldn't normally have time for, like playing Super Nintendo, or cleaning out your desk drawers. Right now, I'm taking a baby step back up to the age of 18--where part-time jobs and car insurance are the primary worries. Hopefully I'll be back to age 22, and concerned about health benefits and planning my future in just a few more weeks. Finding a real job is tough as all get out; however, today I did find some SWEET job-listing websites while looking around the Marist College career services site. It's clear to me that the BEST industry jobs are not listed on Craigslist. So this works a lot better for me in terms of finding the kind of employment I'm good at.

Watch out music industry, I strike back like the Empire!

Talking with Patrick today about my Bible readings was really refreshing. I like to catch up with him every few days to talk about my studies in Matthew. Things are going slow, but I'm already looking forward to moving on to the book of Mark. Getting another perspective on the life of Jesus will be sweet, and it will be good to clarify and reiterate those truths that I need to hear over and over again. A life lived for Christ is not an easy life--but it is certainly a life well spent. I'm praying that God will use me for great things, and that this time in my life will be time well spent preparing for that mission!

I don't usually ask the readers any questions--but what do you guys feel like God is calling you to do for Him these days? What's your biggest challenge?

Day 13 - It's almost November.

2008-09-30T23:28:00.013-04:00

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It's been increasingly difficult to watch TV in my free time. Between news about the economic bail-out disaster, and the most biased election reporting I've ever seen coming from both Fox News and MSNBC--I'm trying to keep myself away from that horrid idiot-box. Sadly, though, it keeps drawing me back in.

I want to be an informed voter. I want to be a good American citizen who makes a difference and has a say in the future of his country--but I don't really feel like the two party system is doing anything to enable that. Either you're left, or you're right, or you're STUCK inexorably in the middle. I don't agree more completely with McCain or Obama on any issue or set of issues to the point where it's orchestrating my vote. My vote isn't swayed by ridiculous superficial things like the race or gender of my potential president or his running mate. I guess, when push comes to shove, I need to get more informed about the little issues--because the big overarching bull-crap doesn't help me choose a president. Neither does horrendously biased reporting from the major news networks. MSNBC and Fox News have no credibility whatsoever. Commentators spout editorialisms and insults like they are facts. I'm not talking about horrible shows like Crossfire where one side is trying to act partisan, and doesn't claim total objectivity. I'm talking about the EVENING NEWS!

My apologies for the fiery rant. Sometimes you just have to vent!

In other news--hah--I dropped my car off at the shop to get it inspected in the morning. I'm hoping by tomorrow afternoon I will get a phone call with an idea of how much the car repairs will cost and how long they will take. Please be praying that they will not need to keep the car through the weekend--and that the repairs are reasonable. It's been a never-ending battle to get myself mobile again, and I just want it to be all over. This is the kind of situation where I need to remember that my time is in God's hands. TRUST!

Today's bible study in Matthew really clarified the importance of being a good steward of what God has given us. When Christ says to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's, I feel that he is reminding us that we should not only yield our money to the government without complaint--since it is, after all, the governments money to begin with. But we should be yielding our gifts and the things that God has entrusted us with to serve Him. After all, everything we have is God's to begin with. It is my desire to be a servant for Christ, and make myself low so that he can be exalted in my life. Unfortunately, reading the gospels means reading about the Pharisees and Sadducees, and realizing how often I act like they did. It's easy to put all the importance on the action of obedience, and forget that we need a heart that wants to obey.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

The heart that is pure sees God more clearly. That means that when we put God first in our hearts--and we WANT to live for God and in a way that's pleasing to God--He will reveal himself in much more noticeable ways. I believe this idea is very literal as well as spiritual. All I know is that I could use a lot more revelation in my life. God is shaking things up for me, and I want to see clearly what He is doing, and the reasons for all these changes. I'm praying right now for God to give me direction, because I'm in a place where I could do whatever I set my mind to, but I don't know where to start.

Day 12 - Time to rest.

2008-09-29T23:59:00.000-04:00

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It's 3:29am on Tuesday as I post this--even though the time-stamp reads 11:59pm on Monday. I think this comic accurately represents how I feel right now. So I'll be keeping this post extra short.

God is good, and my new car is registered, but I got the unfortunate news that I'll need to get it re-inspected (even though it had a brand new New York State inspection sticker when we bought it). I guess every time you register a car as a new owner in NY, it has to be inspected. What you might not know about my new Sentra is that the check engine light is on. There is a problem in the EVAP system, and the car won't pass inspection without fixing it. Guesstimates on how much the repair will cost range from $300-400--so I'm going to be feeling a bitter sting in my pocket-book before this is all over.

This comes at an extra-bad time because of my unemployment. I didn't think I would have to get the car inspected again because it had just BEEN inspected--and I thought I could get away with a few weeks of driving it around before bringing it in to the shop. I thought wrong.

In response to such costly things as car insurance, gas, and repairs, I decided to go hunting for a part-time job to help pay the bills while I'm still looking for a full-time music industry job. I'm sure you can guess how this story ends--and you're right. I'll be starting up again at Michael's Arts and Crafts doing framing and freight come next week. It was weird to go back to Michael's and talk to Steve about getting my old part-time job back. Once again, the store has turned over almost all the employees that were there before I left. My biggest concern about going back is making sure that I'll be making more money than I when I left. I was WAY underpaid for a frame-shop employee, and this time I'm going to be asking for a dollar more to start.

Reading the gospels every day has really shown me that God is all about relationships. Christ tells us that we need to love others in a way where there are no strings attached--where we put aside the expectations we have for each other and live FOR GOD! I am learning more and more each day to trust God in my relationship with Lindsey. I love her very much--and I know that with God as the focus in our relationship, we are moving in the right direction!

And that's all you get for tonight cause I NEEED SLEEEEP...

Day 11 - Fireside manners.

2008-09-28T23:32:00.012-04:00

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I'll keep this post short, since I did both a comic and a video for today's blog.

First, I'd like to report some answered prayer! The new title for my car arrived today and I picked it up in New Paltz this afternoon. God is very good, and the title came quickly! Much quicker than I thought it would, in fact. I should have a registered vehicle by Tuesday of this week!

Second, the show last night went amazingly! We played the full version of "I Have A Brother And His Name Is Israel", which is the last and longest song in our set--close to 11 minutes when done completely. What was incredible is how many of the kids were encouraged and sang along with us as we worshiped at the end of the song. The whole room was filled with the voices of both believers and non-believers singing "With His blood on our hands!" It was a truly powerful experience, and it's something I won't forget any time soon. God definitely poured out his spirit on the show last night, I'm sure of that.

After the concert, the band went out to eat with the Schoonover boys and a few other friends. It was a fun time, but the three hour drive back home in the middle of the night was rough. I'm proud to say I did the whole drive by myself without feeling drowsy even once. I do have a terrible stiff neck to show for it, though. We pulled into my house around 5am, and I was so tired that I slept through church this morning.

It's getting late, and I'm already behind on sleep, so I'll leave you with these words of wisdom:

Boneless buffalo wings are only $.25 each at Applebee's after 11pm. SCORE!

Day 10 - Baby face.

2008-09-27T13:26:00.013-04:00

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Shaving for me is like choosing how old I want to look for a few weeks. I have a fairly young looking face even when it's covered in scraggly beard. But as soon as the hair comes off, it's like I'm in high-school again. It's not really a big deal when it actually matters if I'm 21 or older--I have a legal driver's license that says I'm 22 years old. It's just on the day to day, when strangers treat me like I'm younger than I am, where it's a little bit annoying.

When I WAS 17 years old, people at my church always assumed I was older than I was. All of my friends were in their twenties already, so it made sense. Sure, I looked even younger then, but it's all about who you're with. Lately it's more typical for me to be spending time with guys who are younger than me, so I'm getting the opposite reaction. Games of "who is the oldest" when I'm with The Comeback Tour usually vary depending on how thick Alex's beard is. In fact, the other day at church, I asked another church member--who usually calls me "kiddo"--how old he thought I was. His pensive response was about 18 or 19, and I think he was trying to be generous. At least he doesn't call me kiddo anymore.

Alex and Nate will be arriving soon with the van--at which time we will begin our perilous journey down to southern New Jersey. I'm glad we won't have the trailer today, because the tolls become astronomical with a third axle. I'm super excited to play our NJ farewell show tonight, and for the first time in a long time, I'm a little bit nervous. I hope we can sell of a lot of this leftover merch, and get a few last opportunities to fellowship and hang-out. Please pray we play our best, since it's been over a month since our last show, and over three months since Nate played with us. I expect we'll do just fine.

I'm also hoping we have some time to hang out after the show tonight as well. Even though all three of us have to be up early for church tomorrow morning, spending some time with the guys in Ships and Sailors is something you just can't pass up. I'm sure I'll be a little sleepy playing bass for church in the morning--although I've yet to get the set list from Pat, and verification that I am, in fact, playing.

Since time is short, I'll have to go early, but I made the comic extra detailed tonight just for that reason! I think it's a pretty accurate representation of my bathroom--those who have seen the upstairs bathroom should weigh in.

God bless!

Day 9 - Sit-down talk.

2008-09-26T23:17:00.027-04:00

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I never like to be surprised about what the person on the other end of the phone is doing while I'm talking to them. With Alex, it's always a surprise.

I've been having a hard time dealing with the fact that Alex's new band got signed to a record deal so fast. It's not because I think they're undeserving, it more has to do with the fact that it happened so quickly for them--and, in my opinion, before they've really had the chance to prove themselves with touring or shows. I know they got this deal because their guitarist, Adam, has been culminating important relationships with important people for a LONG time, and I'll give him a lot of credit for playing his cards right. I need to pray that God gives me a selfless heart when it comes to this situation. Despite my agitations, I'm praying for the best for Alex's band, and I honestly want them to succeed. I'm definitely willing to do whatever I can to help them as well. The struggle is having a gracious heart at ALL times--being a good friend should be my top priority.

The other part is that I'm going to miss playing with Alex full time--that definitely factors into my attitude as well. Despite our occasional head-butting, I love playing music with Alex, and I still had dreams about full time ministry with us working together. But sometimes things work out differently than we expect them to--God is in control.

When I was reading in Matthew today I got hit with a major heart-check about living and working to please God, and not expecting a worldly return or reward for my efforts. I need to remember that my time with The Comeback Tour was for God. And God used that time to bless a lot of people. I can't go into a ministry oriented band with the idea that I deserve anything for the hard work. The greatest reward comes from telling the world about Jesus--and I can't let myself lose sight of that truth.

One thing is obvious, it's all about who you know.

Today was good because I got back on track with my bible-studying early on. I also managed to get over to the AutoZone and buy some plexiglass cleaner for my car. I'm proud to say that the pesky fogginess is gone from the odometer-gauge window. It took an incredible amount of elbow grease to get it out, but having a clean car is worth it. Now all I need is the new title so I can finally drive it.

Interestingly, I just got pulled away from writing this blog to help my friend, Zeb, decipher some Myspace code. I've definitely not been pushing my "Myspace Design" freelancing as much as I should. It's a good way to make some extra money, and without a job right now, I could really use that. Zeb and I are actually talking about combining our forces since he does CD artwork for a living, and constantly has access to new clients. If he can pull in bands by doing their artwork for them, I can take that artwork and make a hecka-fine looking Myspace out of it. Not a bad little operation, if I do say so myself.

Lindsey is in New Orleans, and I miss her already. Word has it that there are beads everywhere down there, and it doesn't even matter if it's Mardi Gras. Also, people just hand them out randomly on the street--you don't have to do anything to get them. Now just replace beads with cash, and you'd have the best city on earth. I guess they also have no idea what a vegan or vegetarian is down there either, so pray that Lindsey finds good places to eat this weekend. For a vegan, not being able to find meatless and dairy-less food is like going to a restaurant and having them say to you, "I'm sorry, but we're out of food today. Would you like to take a look at the drink menu?"

Thank you! I would.

Day 8 - Behind the music.

2008-09-25T23:34:00.012-04:00

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So, tonight was practice with Alex and Nate for our first farewell show as The Comeback Tour. The show is happening on Saturday in New Jersey at a place called Rockwells. A bunch of good friends are coming out to see us and hang out, so I'm very excited. Plus, the drive down is always an adventure and I think the show will be good for everyone. Both Alex and Nate were saying tonight that they've been missing playing their instruments, and playing shows. I definitely empathize. If you didn't know, Alex is very busy singing for a signed pop-rock band, and Nate is busy being a responsible adult.

I, on the other hand, have not been busy enough.

Yesterday, Lindsey and I watched a movie called "There Will Be Blood"--it was incredible. Daniel Day-Lewis plays an on-the-edge competition-crazed oil-man, whose son goes deaf in a drilling accident. Lewis is amazingly cold and quirky, and the film itself is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. This was a movie for traditional film appreciators, since the whole thing was framed and shot with excellence. The story is based off of the book "Oil!" by Upton Sinclair (yes, the same guy who wrote "The Jungle"). While Sinclair's book is more about revealing the monopolistic trade practices of the Standard Oil Company, the movie is a much darker character study of a man who does not allow himself to trust or forgive anyone. The best line, by far, comes at the end of the movie, when Lewis' character explains the concept of drainage to a long-time foe by antagonistically shouting the phrase, "I drink your milkshake!" It's both the funniest and most intimidating thing I've ever seen.

I drink it up!

Bible study has been getting pushed later and later into the day, and I'm thinking of changing my time-tables, and trying to do my studying in the morning--right after I get up and take a shower. That way, the word of God is fresh on my mind throughout the day. Also, it will help save Patrick from the super late-night phone calls to talk about what I've read. It's nice to have a study-accountability partner that is as persistent and talkative as Patrick. I always get so much more out of my time reading the gospels when I talk with him about it afterward. It's surprising to me, every day, how much I learn just reading about the life of Jesus. It's easy to get caught up reading the letters to the churches and think you've already read the gospels enough. Not true--there isn't any better part of the Bible to read than the gospels! I'm learning that quickly. And I hope God continues to open my heart and test me as I spend more time in His word. Am I scared, of course I am, but hopefully I'm ready for the challenge.

The car title situation is still pending, and I don't think it will be working out until sometime next week. It takes about 5-7 business days to get a new title delivered, and then I'll have to drive over to New Paltz to get it. It's tough to see the car in the driveway with no way to drive it, but I know that everything is in God's hands. I think one of my biggest tests lately is learning to be patient. I've never been a patient person.

I've been feeling better today about the band situation with the guys from Connecticut. After talking to Justin a little bit, I can understand why they want to hold off for a while before they start a new project. I actually grabbed my acoustic guitar today and started playing that a little bit. I forget how refreshing it is to play some traditional worship music. Something that surprised me in my time playing and touring with The Comeback Tour is how much worship there can be in hardcore music. Amidst the breakdowns and gang-vocals, some bands really put their hearts out for Christ. Do yourself a favor sometime and listen to the band Life In Your Way. Although they just broke up, Life In Your Way almost singlehandedly changed the way MOST Christian bands approach hardcore music. I remember being overwhelmed with the holy spirit when they played the song "Salty Grave" at Cornerstone. The Comeback Tour definitely took up this mantle in our writing during our last few months as a band. I'm hoping whatever band I join (or new band I start) will be focused on this type of worship as well.

God is wonderful! Today's been a good day.

Day 7 - Wake up calls.

2008-09-24T18:40:00.016-04:00

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Sometimes when I call Lindsey to make sure she wakes up for work, I feel like a human alarm clock. Unfortunately for me, and for my daily productivity, I usually hit the snooze button after I talk to her.

Lately, my days have been full of dramatic ups and downs. Yesterday was really encouraging--I was talking to some friends from Connecticut about starting a new band, and things were seemingly coming together without a hitch. But today, I found out that they might be too busy with their other band projects to get this one off the ground--at least any time soon. Alex is also very busy with his new band to the point where practices with him are almost impossible to get together. I'm praying that God opens some doors soon for me when it comes to music. I just need to find other young and experienced Christian musicians I can get together with. Dave and Justin would have been perfect, but unless they have a sudden change in heart, I dunno if it's gonna happen with them.

Up and down.

Yesterday night was fun, and I love spending time with Lindsey--especially when I haven't gotten to see her for a while. I've been down in Brooklyn all day today, trying to occupy myself one way or another until she gets back from work. I watched a documentary about The Flaming Lips called "Fearless Freaks". I've seen it before, but it's been a couple of years since I watched it the first time, so it was completely fresh the second time around. I also got a delicious sandwich from the deli down the street. Yesterday was really hectic, and I wasn't able to get to my bible-studying in Matthew, but today I did read some passages in the book of Acts. It's amazing how on-fire for God the early church was. Part of my desire to be in a full-time band comes from my desire to serve God in a real and radical way, kind of like the early apostles. Wayne Coyne and the other Flaming Lips members really went for their music with everything they had--at one point they didn't even have money for food. I wish I could do something similar for Jesus. "Fearless Freak for Jesus", I know that sounds corny, but I really mean it.

Lindsey will be in New Orleans this weekend, spending time with her mother, and I will be playing the first Comeback Tour farewell show in New Jersey on Saturday. The show's line-up has changed dramatically since we first booked it, but luckily, this particular venue brings out at least 75 kids no matter who's playing. It will be nice to get some of this pent up energy out of my system.

Once again, trust is the major issue. I need to trust that God is in control, and that he has something in the works for me. It's only a matter of time, I suppose.

Until then, it's all trust.

Day 6 - Room for two.

2008-09-23T19:59:00.005-04:00

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It’s about 6:15pm and I’m on the train to Manhattan as I write this. I thought I should mention the train, because I think it helps show how dedicated I am to making this blog a daily effort. For anyone who knows me well enough to have subscribed to any of my other blogs in the past, you know that a daily blog from me--much less one that had a daily comic strip attached to it--was something you wouldn't have held your breath for.

Today was a good day for meditation. It was beautiful outside this afternoon, and I took the opportunity to wash and detail my new car. I never know what to call a used vehicle when you buy one. It’s certainly not a NEW car. But it’s new to me! I had no idea how daunting this task would be. The previous owner had dogs, lots and lots of dogs, and so there was dog hair embedded into every nook and cranny of the interior. I spent a good hour and a half vacuuming and vacuuming, scrubbing and scrubbing, polishing and polishing. When it was all over, the interior looked brand new (save a few stains and cigarette burns) EXCEPT for the odometer window. As it so happens, putting Fantastik or any other kind of all-purpose cleaner on plexiglass will fog it up on contact. So, what was a very clear and visible odometer now has a mild ring of haze around it--and I’m still kicking myself over it. Don’t ask what motivates my pet-peeves, because I’m not really sure.

After an Armorall wipe down and a general exterior washing, the car really does look good. It was an excellent bonding experience with my new automobile, even though I can’t drive it yet. It’s almost like I made it MY car by giving it a detailed cleaning. I feel like God is trying to show me what it means to be a good steward of the things he’s given me.

In other big news, it looks like Alex and I have found a singer and bassist to work with as we write new music. Interestingly, our new partners in crime are Dave and Justin from the Connecticut hardcore band Elotheos. I guess most of their members are off at school during the year, and Elo can’t really be a full time thing. We’re hoping to have our first practice together on Friday, and we’ll see where it goes from there. I can’t lie, I am REALLY excited! Dave and Justin have such an amazing love for Jesus, and they’re incredible musicians as well. Even if nothing comes of the collaboration, at least we’ll have some good fellowship.

The job situation hasn’t really changed just yet, but I’m getting hopeful. I know the WORST case scenario would be that I have to get a part time job to pay for car insurance and repairs while I keep looking for something full time in the city. Everyone please be praying for me (and for Patrick) that a job comes soon! It really feels like the last piece of the puzzle that needs to be put in place.

The battery is running low on my laptop, so until tomorrow, God bless!

Day 5 - Being unemployed.

2008-09-22T23:36:00.011-04:00

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I know this post is a little bit late, but my daily Bible study kept me from posting before the end of the night. I guess I'm getting this in just under the wire.

I think it's important that I elaborate a little bit on today's comic strip. Often, the curse of unemployment is how much time I spend during the day being completely brainless--and I never seem to notice the fact that I've gotten nothing done until it's too late (or too early the next morning) to actually do anything at all. Today's Bible study was extremely late not because I didn't have time earlier to do it, but because I didn't spend my time wisely.

Today was a day full of disappointments. I had plans to visit Lindsey in Brooklyn for a few days starting tonight, but unfortunately some complications with registering the car kept me at home. If you read my last post, you'll remember I mentioned that the car's title had some scribbling on the back, because the previous owner was going to sign it over to his daughter, but then didn't. Well, when my father went to register the car, the woman at the DMV (supposedly) told him that the scribbling on the back voided the title. He came home unhappy, and I had to call the previous owner and instruct him to order a new title online. Thankfully, he did this right away, and I should be able to pick up the fresh title as soon as it's delivered to his house. In the meantime, we're paying insurance on a car that I can't drive. Please pray that the new title comes quickly, and there are no other complications with getting this vehicle on the road!

I use the word "supposedly", because I'm not totally sure if the woman at the DMV told my dad if the title we have is good or not. The other half of the story was that he brought the wrong forms up to register it, and that after this he got so upset over the wait that he just left--I found this out later. It doesn't really matter though, because once the new title is ordered, the old one is invalid. So we have to wait for the new title either way. Please also pray for my dad, he gets really upset when things are out of his control. He needs the peace of God in his life to abate this kind worry.

You gotta TRUST!

I made today semi-productive by applying for some jobs, but the rest of the time was spent doing a lot of nothing. Tomorrow I'll be getting a copy of my transcripts from Marist to help lower my insurance premiums, as well as cleaning out my car and washing it, and making it look all nice for when I finally get to show it off! Hooray.

Sadly, the second disappointment of today is that both Gray Lines of Perfection and Ships and Sailors dropped off The Comeback Tour's final NJ show that's happening this Saturday. While members of both bands will be in attendance, we're left with no supporting bands. Thankfully, Chris Schoonover from Win With Flynn said he would open the night with some of his sweet acoustic music, and I'm hoping either Arlington Sleeps or another band we're good friends with can cover the other spot. This show quickly went from being a total blast to totally uncertain, but again, I've got to TRUST that God is in control. Lindsey tried her best to assuage my anxiety and worry over the car and show--but trusting that God is in control (without worrying) is constantly one of my biggest struggles.

But whose sure tomorrow will even come? I know I should let tomorrow worry about itself! Easier said than done.

I think, ever since I've been reading the Bible more fervently, God has been giving me obvious situations and opportunities to act with a heart that's FOR GOD. The heart is what controls the words and actions of an individual, and I want mine to be focused on doing God's will and acting Christ-like at all times. The show the other night was one of these opportunities, as was helping the Corey's mount a TV at Maddy's father's apartment. I feel like I blew it at both. I need to remember that God is using me to bless other people, and my heart should be in the right place. It says in Matthew that if someone burdens us, we should not complain, but go the extra mile for them (Matt 5:41-42). I am a complainer, and I need grace.

Today was a day for heart growth.

Day 4 - New old-car smell.

2008-09-21T18:43:00.015-04:00

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It's official, at around 1pm this afternoon, my parents and I travelled over to New Paltz and purchased a 1997 Nissan Sentra! Woot woot! The car drives and feels almost exactly like my Altima did, which is awesome, because I've never liked how my brother's Sentra drives. It's silver, it's got plenty of dings and scratches, it's interior could use a good cleaning, but who cares, because it's mine!

There were really no problems with buying the car. The seller was a bit of an airhead, despite working at Vassar (I don't think he's a professor). My only concern is that at some point he wanted to sign the car over to his daughter, but never did--so there is some scribbles on the back of the title because he needed to put our info on there instead. Thank you all for your prayers that I would get this car! Now just pray the DMV doesn't care about a few scribbles on the back of the title. The feeling of driving the car back home from across the river had me smiling the whole way. I'm gonna put Dustin's old stereo system into this car like I did with the Altima, and hopefully have it road-ready by the end of tomorrow!

Having a car again finally adds a bit of normalcy that was missing from my life the last month or so. I really think it was a blessing to be able to get a new car, though, since my other one was about to die soon--and not having to spend any money on gas for four weeks was great. I'm glad the Sentra gets such good gas mileage, because my last car just drank the stuff. Now I just need to find a job.

The show yesterday was pretty awesome. The highlight of the night was a band that was touring with Straylight Run called Band Marino. They were everything I like about Page France, but way more danceable--and with some stage theatrics too! Alex's new band played, and they did okay. There were some sound issues that hurt them here and there, but all-in-all, I'm proud of how good spirited Alex was and how much fun everyone was having (especially the mosh pit)! Straylight Run was really good, although it was empty on stage without Michelle there. To the chagrin of the crowd, Straylight's set got cut short by the stage manager. They weaseled out of ending early a little-bit by playing two songs in a row without stopping, and then responding to an encore chant from the crowd. They played "Big Hands In the Sky" last, which is my favorite song by them, and I almost lost my voice at the end screaming along.

Going to shows at The Chance often reveals how many people I've met just on the basis of playing music around the area. It was nice to have some important people there say "hello" and chat. All around, the night was good, but it definitely had it's WEIRD moments, like a drunk girl telling me how beautiful my hair is (which I thought was super ironic after yesterday's post). I missed not having Lindsey there with me, but I thankfully found some friends to hang out with, and got to wander around a little on my own as well, which is always nice at a big concert. Also, Dan Rose showed up with Jamie! It was great to see him, and a surprise, because I called him earlier, but he didn't call back.

Honestly, as much fun as I had, I felt like I didn't conduct myself with humility last night the way Jesus teaches in Matthew. It's hard for me at shows not to act superior or to try to drop-names and be important. During Band Marino's set, I said a little prayer asking God to forgive me for being so arrogant when I'm around music. God uses music as a ministry in my life, and I need to make sure the things I say and do are always FOR GOD. Next time I go out to The Chance, I will try to be more focused on why God might have me there. Shows are always a great place to minister.

The rest of today has been pretty slow, in a few minutes, I'm going to finally catch up on my Bible study and note taking--which will be a welcome relaxation after a hectic last few days. Alex might be stopping by to take me to a Frankie and His Fingers show, but I'm not holding my breath. Perhaps tonight will be the night-in I've been needing to catch up on some missed sleep. I can't ever be sure, though, because somehow, no matter how tired I am, it always rolls around to 3am, and I'm not sleeping.

Take a few night ago, for example: I suddenly realize it's 3:30am, and what am I doing? Watching "Encino Man" on cable.

Buuud-ay!

Day 3 - Wash, rinse, repeat.

2008-09-20T15:42:00.005-04:00

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I don't know how or when I acquired the reputation of having dirty hair, but it happened along-the-way sometime between last summer and this summer. Not that I think that it's totally inaccurate, I try to only wash my hair every three days or so. Don't be shocked, ask any girl with long hair and they'll most likely say the same thing. I think the biggest problem, and greatest factor contributing to my "dirty hair" reputation has to be the hair products I use to give it shape. Garnier used to be the go-to stuff because it smelled fruity and didn't melt in the sun, but my recent gel purchase seems to just make my hair look all stringy and gross.

The worst surprises are when I do wash my hair, and realize that the gel might be keeping dead hairs from escaping my head in between washings. Which recently, as my hair gets longer, equals no fun at all. I'm resisting the urge to fear going bald at age 22.

Now that I've grossed you all out!

Today has been nothing short of a mess. Part One was going to New Paltz to look at a Nissan Sentra that was for sale there. The car was really nice, despite some cosmetic issues--and it drove like a good car should! Surprisingly, it had a lot more pick-up than my brother's Sentra, which I liked. We made an offer on it, and I'm waiting to hear back from the seller sometime today or tomorrow. I really hope that they accept, because I don't think I can stand being carless any longer. The seller is a coach at Vassar College, and I think he's seeing if some guy on his cross-country team wants to buy it for more. Please pray that they accept our offer first!

I'm not sure if there has been a Part Two to my day yet...

Sadly, I didn't get to do my daily bible study yesterday, and this has left me feeling a little bit unhappy. Especially since chances of catching up on my bible-reading today are slim as well, due to a number of interruptions and detours that included moving and mounting a plasma TV onto a wall without most of the proper tools, and waiting around for twenty minutes to see a car while the dealer haggled with other buyers. I will probably hit the Good Book for maybe a half an hour or so after I finish this post, but I may need to forego usual note taking--I have a show to go to!

Alex is singing in a new band with a few friends of his, and they're playing at The Chance tonight with Straylight Run. My brother is letting me borrow his car, and I have free entry plus a guest thanks to my friend Bryan at The Agency Group (thanks Bryan). Sadly, though, EVERYONE is working or doing something else. So I have no one to go with me. I even called some friends down in Nyack to see if they'd want to go. But no such luck. I guess I'll be going stag to the show, which isn't awful, it just isn't as fun, either.

Thankfully, tomorrow I get to play for church, which I'm looking forward too since The Comeback Tour has been playing out less and less as we prepare for our last few shows. It was encouraging to hang out with Richard the other day and hear that people really like it when I'm playing at church. Because, I'll be honest--I love it!

Day 2 - Productivity.

2008-09-19T22:07:00.001-04:00

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I really wish that today's comic could just be a joke. Considering I drew the first few comics all together about three nights ago (I knew I would have to make a few upfront to get motivated), I thought the probability of this being how my day actually went was pretty slim. Unfortunately, around noontime, the Super Nintendo started calling my name, and I couldn't resist one of the saddest truths about my recent joblessness--I waste TONS of time.

Today's menu for wasting time included a few hours spent playing an SNES game that pretty much commanded my childhood: Earthbound. The game is about a group of teenagers who save the world from some cosmic space alien from the future. Also there are lots of fart jokes and some more complicated humor about The Beatles and Japanese baseball. Don't ask, just appreciate! I also learned the art of solving the Rubik's Cube on YouTube--which, according to "The Pursuit of Happyness" will help me get a sweet job as a stock broker.

If you read my last post, you know that I am still without a car since the crash four weeks ago. Today my Dad and I adventured over to Newburgh to see a few cars--three to be exact. Unfortunately when we got there and met up with "Lenny from the Bronx", the guy who was supposed to show them to us--he dropped the bomb right away on two of the vehicles. One had a broken window, and the other had an exhaust leak--I love how neither of these problems were mentioned when we talked on the phone yesterday. The one car we actually did look at (a 1995 Nissan Sentra) had the most funky alignment problems I'd ever experienced. It was also parked without license-plates outside a bakery. I knew it was trouble when Lenny drove up in a Suzuki compact with the rear fender smashed in. But at least I got to enjoy a car ride with my Dad and I making our best New-York-City-Folk impressions the whole way: "Yeaaaah, ahm Lenny frum dah Bronks."

The car situation did get better around 4pm, though, when my Mom and I went to see a Nissan being sold by a dealership near my house. We're going to check it out again with the owner tomorrow afternoon, and in the morning we'll be driving to New Paltz to see another car that's almost identical (in model and story) to my brother's car. The guy selling it is the Vassar College Men's Track and Field coach. I guess his son only had it for a year and then bought a new car, even though this one is working great. Oh the sob story of a father who put too much money into a car his son will never drive again... breakin' my heart. But it was cool to talk to someone from Vassar. I love Vassar, and why shouldn't I? I spent almost two years hanging around on campus there with this pretty girl I know!

I've been feeling more and more responsible about time spent not looking for jobs. The hardest part of this whole process is accepting the fact that I've pretty much applied to EVERY music industry job at all of the big-four record lables (Sony/BMG, Universal, Warner, EMI) that I'm actually qualified to do. Which means spending a lot more time trolling around on Craigslist and finding other jobs that might not really have anything to do with the music industry at all. The biggest problem comes from the fact that my resume crosses like five different job fields (marketing, publicity, PR, new media, and management). So I don't feel like I'm strong enough in just one field or another to actually be the best for any job I apply for. I know God is good, and that He's preparing a job that will be RIGHT for me, but not knowing what it could be or where I might find it is the hardest part. Plus the day-to-day cattle call on New York Craigslist is almost unmanageable when you're looking for jobs in five different fields.

Daily Bible reading with Patrick is going really well. Yesterday's lesson: God hasn't given us a spirit of worry, since He will provide all we need to serve Him. And when we serve God and look to God for help, it should be because we are living FOR GOD, and not because we want fame or glory for ourselves. And that's a pretty hard thing to get your mind around--so let's all be challenged to live with Jesus at the forefront of our lives, because when we do, God brings amazing provisions and opportunities our way! Matthew 6-9.

Day 1 - Getting your dream job.

2008-09-18T16:09:00.000-04:00

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Hey everyone, welcome to the first ever edition of Mercy Buckets, my new blog. It's been a long time since I've had a blog that I updated daily, so I'd like to start by saying that I promise I will do my best to have a new post and a new comic up every day as long as I have access to a scanner.

Yesterday, with inspiration from Mitch over at Mitchapalooza, I had the most wonderful idea to draw a comic about the events that happen to me on a day to day basis. They don't have to be funny--they're simply a creative outlet for how I am feeling!

Now it's time to catch everyone up with the last few weeks and months...

So, for any of you who don't know, a bunch of crazy things have happened since I got done with being on the road in June-July. Touring was awesome, and Cornerstone was wonderful. The most incredible experience at Cornerstone was seeing a band called The Glorious Unseen. They take worship songs (contemporary and old) and play them in the most amazing ambient-indie-rock fashion. God is DEFINITELY working in this band, and I was completely caught up in the worship, more than I think I've been in the last 8 or 9 years. It was an incredible time and God definitely was speaking to me that night.

After tour, I went back to my job in Josh Kline's office at The Agency Group. However, after a few more weeks of pushing papers as an intern/assistant--I realized I needed to be working full time there or get out. After talking to Josh about it, I really felt like maybe booking wasn't the right job for me. I love being involved in music industry--but I just need a more first-hand experience with the bands. I've also been thinking a lot about graphic art. Luckily for me, Lindsey and my parents were super supportive of the decision.

The next week, I went to Niagra Falls with my mother. And the following Monday, I made a bad turn at a busy intersection while driving Lindsey to the train station, and my car was hit by an oncoming van. Thank God no one was hurt--but I felt enormously responsible for putting Lindsey in danger. Unfortunately, the whole thing left me jobless and carless; something I've not been since I was 16 years old. On top of all this, my band, The Comeback Tour, is playing it's final shows in the next few months (read about that on our Myspace). While I'm still writing music here and there with Alex--this means right now I have NOTHING to do. No car, no job, no band.

NOW TO THE BIG STUFF! About two weeks ago, I was looking for music industry jobs at EMI's website, when I stumbled onto an opening for an A&R position at Tooth & Nail records. I've loved Tooth & Nail since I was 12 years old, listening to the O.C. Supertones. On a whim, I applied to the job--despite it's being in Nashville, TN.

To my enormous surprise, roughly three days later, I got a call from a woman in H.R. at Tooth & Nail, asking if I would interview with Chad Johnson, the director of A&R. For those of you who don't know, A&R (Artist and Repertoire) are the people at a record label who take care of the bands and help them grow--and also scout new bands to sign. That Monday, after a weekend of talking with Lindsey about the possibility of my moving to Nashville, I interviewed with Chad over the phone. Chad is an AWESOME guy, who is completely in love with Jesus. We talked about everything from where Christian music is going--to what church I would go to if I lived in Nashville (The Anchor). The interview went great. Things took an even better turn when friends of mine in a band in TN, Nitengale, said I could live in a house with them right outside Nashville for almost nothing if I got the job. And I was FOR SURE I was on my way to getting it.

Sadly, though, last Friday I got an e-mail letting me know that Chad had some other guys in mind for the position, and by Tuesday, I got another e-mail saying someone had filled the spot.

It's been a rough and confusing couple of days since then. I've only applied to a few more industry jobs, and a new friend of mine from Lindsey's church in Brooklyn is helping me get my resume out (thanks Kibbe). What stinks is how everything seemed to be working out and moving QUICKLY toward me moving out to Nashville for my dream job! I thought for sure God was 100% all for this. But it's strange how God can use huge opportunities to affect so many other aspects of ones life--even if those opportunities don't work out. Lindsey and I had some awesome conversations we would have never had if it hadn't been for this job, and our relationship has grown greatly because of it! I guess I'll just have to trust.

In other news, Patrick has encouraged me to start reading about 5 chapters daily in the Bible and taking notes. My first big lessons come from Matthew 1-5--God keeps his promises; and a pure heart will see God!

Well, I know that was a lot to read for the first day, but I had to catch everyone up to speed so that I can be more introspective in the future! Thanks for joining me on my new journey!