Shout Out

So I'm sitting here in the library, next to the Magnificant Meg.

She totally did not demand that I give her a shout out on the blog.

So, Meg, this one's for you.

The Unfinished Nation

I almost forgot to tell you ...

My dearest brother, Blake, has started a blog.

Projectile

This is me, a few hours ago.

Not really, but it is a little girl getting smacked in the face with a football.

But for real. I was standing in front of the SUB today, saying 'hi' to Stephen. A lawn worker guy is edging the ground cover about 20 feet away.

All of the sudden, I get friggin' pelted in the side of the head with a piece of a stick. It was probably 3 inches long, and had a diameter of one inch. That's a pretty good size stick, when it hits you in the head.

Thanks, Baylor.

I drove off a cliff

Not really, but I felt like I had all the way home.

I left Waco yesterday afternoon for an evening show in Plano, followed by toast, water and satisfying conversation. I awoke this morning, and played a noontime show in my lovely hometown. Then I ate China Sun with my grandmother, and drove back to Waco.

All the way home, I was in a daze. I've been thinking too much lately, and it's beginning to take its toll. My vision's a little blurred.

So I turned on Wilco to energize myself. Not a good idea. Wilco has the amazing capacity to draw me into a trance. Add that to the trance I was already in, and you've got hallucination. I don't think I've ever felt emptier in my life.

It was a numbingly sober feeling.

All this recent thinking and contemplation must have its roots in something ... I think I'm learning how to feel again. I'm a psycho, I know, but can't stop throwing myself headfirst into the emotion of the moment.

It's brilliant, it's destructive.

Shake It

Brittney and Julie just brought over a carton of Edy's ELVIS Love Me Tender Brownies ice cream.

Hahahahaha

Running in Circles

Being alive is crazy. I'm thankful for all my homies out there who are walking alongside me through life. We all need people to connect with, and people to understand our sentiments and passions.

A Good Conversation

Hope comes when you need it most. Last night, I experienced a brief moment of dissatisfaction with life. I felt that there was more out there than what I was getting. I convinced myself that I could see the things I needed, but I had no way to attain them.

But my ills were eased by conversation. By simply discussing my feelings, and knowing that others felt the same way, I learned that growing up is both made possible and enhanced by other people. We're all in it together.

A Return to Reality

So Saturday night turned out beautifully. I very much enjoyed performing. The response was good, and I only tripped over my ear-monitor cable once ... and of course on the steps, coming off the stage.

But it's a crazy feeling to walk away from something like that, from holding the attention of thousands of people, only to find yourself lost and out of place. I feel like I went from one extreme to the other, trying to fit in and find my place in awkward conversations. Ahhh... life goes on.

I caught a glimpse of something breathtaking on Saturday night, and I was able to savor it more the following day...

A Purpose to Art

On Saturday night, I sang at the top of my lungs things that I would never say in conversation. I expressed emotions that would, in any other case, go unexpressed.

I figured out that this idea is the basis for part of the significance of art. Art is an expression of things we either cannot or will not say. I would hold my tongue for a lifetime about a tiny emotion... tiny to anyone else, but one that eats me up inside.

Art is a chance not only to express these subtle emotions, but to shout them aloud, for the world to hear. The crazy part about art is ... these testimonies and confessions of feeling are discernable only to the most intuitive listener. It's like screaming a secret, but having it remain a secret. Beautiful.

That's all I got. Peace.

A Change in the Wind

So tomorrow night, I'm opening for Bebo Norman.

Originally, the show was going to be on Baylor's Fountain Mall, but rain has forced a move to the Ferrell Center. I'm going on at 8:00pm.

This is going to be off the wall. Hope you can make it.

Uberawesomeness of life and love and stuff

I bought this 45 today. I also bought 3 other classics.

My life just hit it's peak.

Lovin' dem photos...

New photos at ThePhotoHat.

The past two days ...

I've been working on this.

The all new www.TheBrianShow.com ... Enjoy.

Look out, New Hampshire.

People are here again, and I have thus been enjoying myself. Waco is better with people in it.

My life has recently been filled with poker, guitars and vinyl. Not sleep. But check it out -- I get to open for friggin' Bebo Norman on Saturday night at the Baylor welcome week concert. That's gonna be phat.

We had a lock-in with the FBC Waco kidz on Friday night / Saturday morning ... I'm still a little freaked out by that one, in terms of sleep patterns.

I went cliff jumping on Friday, with Blake and Kyle. It was still awesome.

I found out that Johnny Rivers will be doing a show in Grand Prarie next month. He sang "Poor side of town" and "Baby, I need your lovin'." I'm kinda thinking about checkin' it out. Hahaha.

Dreaming

So I ended up adding a few more beautiful 45s to my collection - some Beatles and Elvis stuff - 'cause that's what I like.

Anyway. I hung out with the Stephens last night ... Wagner and Bush. It was just like old times. Haha yeah.

The Dream

So I had this funky dream last night. I dunno where I was, but I decided to go up and sit on this really windy balcony.

So I'm up there, writing or something, and about 10 thug-looking Mexican catts come out and surround me. Guys and girls both. They stood there for a while, and I didn't say anything to them.

Then one of the girls speaks up. She says, "Aren't you afraid?" "Of what?" I ask. "Of being surrounded by a bunch of Mexicans," she explains. I tell her "Nope," in an extremely confident voice, even though I was scared out of my mind. I never even looked up, but just kept playing Solitare or whatever. Extremely confident.

"See," the girls tells her friends, "these are the qualities we need in a leader. He's courageous."

They talk amongst themselves for a bit, then leave.

A few minutes later, one of the guys comes back out on the balcony. He locks all the doors behind him with Mexican flags, so I can't escape.

The thugg then begins to threaten me, saying he's going to throw me off the balcony. I climbed over the side for some strange reason, then I climbed back up.

I dunno what happend after that. I woke up. Yeah. It was like 7:30 am.

The search for vinyl

To make a long story short ...

Saturday night, my uncle showed me a stack of uber-classic 45rpm records he got at a certain "Half-Price Books" location. I went back to Waco, but couldn't take my mind off the store. I had to pay a visit.

So this morning, I haul it back to Dallas while visions of 45s danced in my head. I attained the following:

Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On / I Wish It Would Rain
Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through The Grapevine / You're What's Happening

The 4 Seasons: Walk Like A Man / Lucky Ladybug

Johnny Rivers: Poor Side Of Town / Baby I Need Your Lovin'

The Beach Boys: Fun, Fun, Fun / Why Do Fools Fall In Love
The Beach Boys: God Only Knows / Caroline, No

The Righteous Brothers: (You're My) Soul And Inspiration / B Side Blues

Johnny Cash: Daddy Sang Bass / He Turned The Water Into Wine

The Animals: The House Of The Rising Sun / I'm Crying

Simon & Garfunkel: Fakin' It / At The Zoo
Simon & Garfunkel: For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her / A Hazy Shade Of Winter

Bee Gees: Stayin' Alive / If I Can't Have You

Michael Jackson: Smooth Criminal / (Instrumental)

Elvis Presley: Return To Sender / Where Do You Come From
Elvis Presley: (You're The) Devil In Disguise / Please Don't Drag That String Around

The Beatles: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby
The Beatles: Hey Jude / Revolution

The Monkees: It's Nice To Be With You / D. W. Washburn
The Monkees: Pleasant Valley Sunday / Words
The Monkees: I'm A Believer / (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

Three Dog Night: One / Chest Fever

The Ventures: Genesis / Yellow Jacket

A Tale of Wonder

The Colorado pictures are up - just click over on the sidebar, and visit The Photo Hat.

I had a wonderful time. The dynamics of the family road trip were great, as always.

We stayed for three nights in a cabin between Antonito, CO and Chama, NM, in the San Juan mountains. We fished for trout, climbed mountains, hiked and looked at stuff. It was kinda cool.

We stopped in Sante Fe on the way up ... I soon fell in love with the southwestern Mecca for art and religion. Great city. I need to spend a summer there or something.

Ummm, lots of relaxation, photography, poker, strenuous climbing, and - of course - Scrabble.

I guess that's it. Yep. Go comment on my pictures, so I feel like my life counts.