Monthly Archives: September 2009

I can’t stop playing the guitar.

Posted on
15

I need to make a confession. It’s time that I come clean & say that I’m a guitar hack. I’ve never taken lessons. I’m the type that sits next to the really good guitar guy in the band & pays very close attention to what he does. Then I go home & figure it out. See? A hack.

This past week I discovered something on youtube: An endless array of guitar playing tutorials. In the midst of all the options, I was searching for something very specific. I was searching for an alternate tuning guide. And I unknowingly “hacked” into a whole new world of playing.

(Here’s the part where some of you think: “Wow. She doesn’t know anything about alternate tunings?!” and I hang my head in shame and say, “Well… No. Not until this week. I told you I’m a hack.” But the rest of you might just sit there staring blankly at the screen, wondering how in the world a guitar can be tuned more than one way. That’s ok. You’re all welcome here.)

Back to the alternate tuning tutorials. Can I just say (again, shamelessly) that I’m INLOVEWITHDADGAD. It’s beautiful. I can’t stop playing. It’s like I’ve got a new guitar in my hands. This is SUCH a big deal because I’m now 74 songs into this process, and – even though I only have 26 more to write – I’m running out of creative options. But this! This is like having a brand new instrument to play.

I feel like a 15 year old boy who just picked up his first Les Paul.

*cough cough* *sneeze sneeze*

Posted on
9

Mandy & Drew sick

Drew and I both have colds right now.

I emailed to check on him, and to tell him my head felt like it was going to fall off.

And then I asked him if his head was still attached. Here’s his response:

No, I had to hold it up to the screen so I could read your email.  But at least now I can comb the back of my head easier.  And check out my own butt.  And play pick-up volleyball anytime.  And be in two places at once.  And put my foot in my mouth.

He really does have a nice butt.

*sniff*

69. It’s the Right Time

Posted on
8

I wrote this a few weeks ago, with a specific purpose in mind. And did a quick demo recording. Close enough to give you an idea of the song.

What do you think?

We singe our souls by the sin of greed
& turn our eyes from others’ needs
while living lives of peace and ease
& it’s the right time

We’ve let our mouths fill up with words
that make us sound just like the world
no sanctity found on our tongues
& it’s the right time

To wash our hands
confess our sin
return again
It’s the right time
It’s the right time……

We make them preach what we want to hear
rewriting truth that is so clear
dismiss the Words that we should fear
& it’s the right time

I’ve waited three years to get this beautiful headache!

Posted on
4

Saturday, August 29, 2009
11:15am

The rain fell softly but persistently outside. Even though the summer air already cooled, I pulled the window open to hear the rain and let the crisp air stream in. I love the sound of rain. I fell asleep to it the night before, and woke up twelve hours later to the sky still dripping all around us.

Twelve hours. All a consecutive strand of uninterrupted stupor. I can’t remember the last time I slept that hard for that long.

The sleep started as a headache – the kind that dashes any hopes for Friday night fun. My eyes surrendered to the stabbing blade of light slicing through the crack in the bedroom door, taking aim for my head. All I could do was sleep.

I was exhausted anyway – from excitement and excitement and excitement. The headache was little surprise.

Drew and I spent the week making phone calls. Making plans. Realizing dreams. First, we told our parents. Then we called the pastor who will soon be Drew’s boss. Then we began the calls, text messages, and emails, to let everyone know that we will be returning to Georgia.

Yes, we are excited to have finally made a decision about our future. But, one thing is for certain, all this excitement – this positive stress – took its toll on my body just like any other stress would have.

And left me with a headache.

I woke twelve hours later to more rain, less headache, and a day to sit and think about what life will be like after seminary.

A day to wrap my brain around the fact that we will be returning to Georgia.

We will be back in our old world.

And we will be with people that we love and have missed for three amazing years.

With that thought – that restful thought – I faced my Saturday.