Little More Realtime

I found a few videos of Realtime from Salt Lake City's international competition last year and thought i'd put 'em on here for everyone to see. Enjoy! (and I wanted to see if I could really post a video here. I had ulterior motives, ;)

A Little Thing Called Realtime

So I received in the mail today my fresh and new copy of Realtime's newest CD. Realtime is the 2005 international champion. They will always hold a special place in my heart since their win occurred on my first trip to an international convention in Salt Lake City, UT. The CD is PHENOMENAL as I expected it to be but it has blown me away. They are amazing. I say all of this to say this. I haven't been listening to any barbershop for the past few months. It was just too hard. My mom saw me checking out Realtime's website one day and must have seen that they had the CD available. She secretly ordered it for me and told me it was on the way a few days ago. At first I was a little worried because I figured I wouldn't be able to listen to it without crying like a schoolgirl. But, I popped it in regardless today and grinned from ear to ear through the whole thing. Apparently that wound is starting to heal and Realtime helped me see it. I don't know when or where I will barbershop again. I do know that I will faithfully pay my dues each year and maintain my membership in the society for the rest of my life. But, until that day comes when I get back in the saddle, I have plenty of barbershop CD's and videos that I can finally watch again. i can't put into words how much that will help me break out of this funk I have been in. I hope it does. Thank god for prayer and Realtime!

p.s. You can go to http://www.realtimequartet.com and listen to the first song on the CD. On the left side of the page is a recordings box with a play button. Believe it or not, everyone should know it!

Midterms and Such

The teacher passes out the exam and you sit there anxiously waiting to get your copy. It finally comes and you take a quick look at it. Not too long, not too short. She tells the class to begin and you take a gander at question one. Not sure of that one so you move on to number two. You didn't really study for this one, but you think that you paid enough attention during the past 6 weeks. It's starting to look like you might not have. As you work your way through the test, you are not sure of quite a few of the answers and seem to be skipping an awful lot. Then a sinking feeling starts to hit. You are not ready for this test and you are more than likely going to fail. Maybe you'll scrape through but probably not.
That's what life feels like right now. Just F.Y.I....it's a crappy feeling.

Just Jamie Rambling...again

I haven't blogged in awhile so I decided to just put some random thoughts i've had running around in my head. Here goes.
--I got a chance to meet Matt White last night of the Matt White Band. This is one of my favoritebands at the moment. They are from Austin and were headed back from Corpus. They stopped in for some gas and munchies and such. i said hello to Matt and asked if he was in fact Matt White. I think I stunned him a bit because he looked at me kind of funny and said that yes he was and how in the world did I know who he was. I told him I had heard him on Myspace and how much I enjoyed his music. He and his bandmates were really some of the nicest people i've ever met. We talked about what songs I liked and such then they had to head out. But, not before giving me a CD of their newest stuff. So it was a pretty cool evening. It's always nice to meet someone that you admire and have them be so nice. I've had the distinct displeasure of meeting Julia Roberts and what a cow she was. But that's that.
--I have added another pet peeve to my growing list (it's getting WAY too long) I can't stand to have crumpled up money thrown at me when I finish a sale. It drives me cray. Maybe it's because i'm so anal about keeping all of mine facing the same direction and in numerical order. It drives me nuts to have to straighten it out and stuff it in the cash drawer.
--I was listening to some random CD's earlier and came across one of my all time favorite songs. The name of the group is Bluegrass Student Union and the song is "A Foggy Day." They were international champions in 1974 and were light years ahead of their time. They sang on my grandfather's chapter show when I was about 8 or 9. I had been to quite a few show of his before and I liked it but nothing more than that. Then in the middle of BSU's set they started this song and I snapped to attention. I LOVED it and it's the song (and group) that made me want to sing barbershop. So I thought i'd share it with everyone.
i guess that's all that I can think of for now. So I hope everyone has a great week and an even better holiday season!

(I tried to place links here so everyone could hear a little Matt White Band and Bluegrass Student Union but blogger doesn't like me enough to let me do that!)

God Outside the Box

Don't cry to me
If you loved me
You would be here with me
You want me, come find me
Make up your mind
This is the chorus to a new song by the band Evanescence. I was listening to it the other day and it got me to thinking. We've been studying Revelation in our monday night bible study and i've also been doing some study on my own of the old testament. We serve a jealous and vengeful god. He has done some pretty severe dealing with the human race. But, he is also a forgiving and loving god. It sure helps to put things in perspective that he will someday finally deal with all of the evil in this world past and present. He sits waiting and hoping for all to come to him and change their lives through him. I guess that song got me to thinking, "what if god actually had that kind of attitude?" Almost like the father of a small child who is frustrated to the point of saying, "well here i've been all along. so stop crying and fix your life. I haven't been hiding and if you really wanted to change, you'd come find me." Now I know he is never frustrated, or maybe he is. I am not sure. It has just helped me lately to be reminded of the wrath of god. Maybe it could help us all to be mindful that while he loves us and would do almost anything to help us, he is also a wrathful being that will punish those who do wrong.

Just Jamie Rambling

I haven't been in a blogging mood as of late, but i've had some ideas for blogs running through my head. So, I will present them in a non-sensical rambling forum for you. Here goes.
I must first state that I am in no way a racist person. Not at all. However, i have decided that I am sick and tired of something. Non english speaking customers. Really, this IS America. Land of the free and home of the brave. I think we should add english speaking to that little phrase. I just am tired of customers walking up and handing me money and then rattling of a paragraph of spanish. Then they get upset that I don't understand what they want. Well excuse me but to quote a tshirt I saw recently, "Ok, so you snuck in. SPEAK ENGLISH." Now not all hispanics snuck in to America. Some are born and raised here. SO LEARN THE LOCAL LINGO. DON"T EXPECT ME TO KNOW YOUR LANGUAGE IN MY COUNTRY. Just a pet peeve I guess.
I have also come to the conclusion that the human race is inherently stupid. There are a few bright spots (Einstein, Beethoven, OC Cash and Rupert Hall) but by and large we are all pretty dumb. I had a lady come to me on Monday and ask if we sold gas. She was obviously well off, in her 50's I would guess and she must have driven RIGHT by all 10 of the gas pumps. So I tried to politely tell her that yes we sold gas and the pumps were right behind her. She then said she'd like to fill her Mercedes. Then she just stood there. I then realized that she was expecting me to fill her car up. Uhm....no. I told her that all the gas was self serve. So she took her $20 and said she'd get it herself then. She then proceeded to circle the pumps....twice before driving off. I should have called the highway patrol to check on her as she probably ran out of gas on the interstate and was freaking out. Just a pet peeve I guess.
I was driving home from work the other night and was trying to scan the radio for a station that wasn't jabbering or playing commercials. I finally landed on 99.5 KISS. They proceeded to finish the song and begin what turned out to be approximately 5 minutes and 32 seconds (I timed it) of commercials. I decided to call in and see if they would talk to me. If you can believe it, I actually got through to the DJ (ugh). I asked him where the "50 minutes of continous rock" was and he said "Well, we gotta pay the bills man." So I suggested to him that he quit and help them pay the bills with what they were paying him. He hung up. Just a pet peeve I guess.
So I guess that's all for now. I did decide to post a blog this time not a poem. Just FYI.

Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! If you must - but never quit

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won if he'd stuck it out;
Stick to your task, thought the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with one more blow

Success if failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt -
And you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that YOU MUSN'T QUIT.

Let the Children Sing

I guess that it is no secret how much I love music. Just about any kind. I love it all. But aside from barbershop there is one that I love almost as much. Dare I say maybe more?
I absolutely LOVE to hear children sing. It is one of the greatest sounds that God has blessed us with on this earth. it doesn't matter if it is a wonderful almost professional children's choir or just a child sitting behind me in church, I can't get enough of it. i can't really explain what it does to me, but it just seems to put a huge ear-to-ear grin on my face. A few Sunday's ago, I sat right behind the Mann's at church. Let me tell you, those little girls can sing. i don't think I sang a note that entire service. I just stood there in awe of the sound they were making. It was so pure and joyful.
I think that may be a small part of what makes children's voices so special to me. You can just hear the carefree nature of it. They are singing from the heart and they mean what they are singing (saying). It reminds me that sometimes in worship and in life I just go through the motions instead of praising God with every breath I take. So God bless the little children and the music they make. It's one of life's greatest joys for me.

Life is a Highway

Tomorrow bright and early i am headed to Pursch Motors. I am going to head up to Dallas with a small group to pick up some vehicles that they purchased at auction. So to the Big D and back in a day. I can't wait. I love cars and I get to drive a brand new one on the highway listening to my CD's for about 4 or 5 hours. Plus I get paid for having so much fun. Can't beat that. So everyone pray for a safe trip there and back for everyone driving tomorrow. I can't wait!!

Die Die Die

So you see that woman to the right there? Yes you do. She really needs to die. I mean a slow, painful and agonizing death. That would make me VERY happy. REALLY happy.
Now before anyone starts calling the police or anything of that sort. I would like the character that she plays on Nip/Tuck, Julia McNamara, to perish. (Although, I think that I despise her character so much that i would not like Joely Richardson in real life.) This got me to thinking about how much we as individual (or at least me) get into a favorite show. There is, or was, a character that was making life pretty difficult for my favorite character as of late. As Sean was going to operate on her, I caught myself thinking, you should kill her. Didin't think twice about it. Now he didn't have to since she was clobbered by a bus about five minutes later, but what a wierd thought. Now I would not wish for someone to die in real life, but I have no qualms about wishing such things on a TV character. Just something I found odd and thought I would share. Maybe I am addicted to Nip/Tuck. No, no, no. There's no maybe about it....

Another Me

I was listening to my favorite band, Sister Hazel, yesterday when a song came on that I thought I knew very well. It's called "Another Me" and I guess I had never REALLY listened to it. I knew all the words, but for the first time I guess I really HEARD them. Here's the lyrics.

Digging in for another day
Carrying on in my own way
But you know me, I live and die nearly every day
Insanity is having its way with me

These days in the gallows
I'm kneeling at the block with my neck outstretched
And I should have stayed in the shallows
But you know me, I'm in too deep

[CHORUS]

And I'm waiting for another me
One that can change the pain of yesterday
Carry me through another day
And I'm waiting for another me
One in between the burn and the lessons learned
'Cause being me ain't no way to be

Talking law down at Murphy's Bar
Unhappy hour on my own last
Calling me out on my living lie
Looking for luck I can't even buy

[CHORUS]

Give me one chance at recovering what was lost
And give me one shot at redemption at any cost
Repair my way before it breaks me
Don't break me

Hello, do you notice me
Can't you see that I'm crumbling down
Tired of the same old same
I’m coming to, coming back around

That song is just about exactly how I have been feeling for the forseeable recent past. I've been waiting for a massive shift in attitude and what not to occur. And for the most part it has. I love the chorus. Now I can't "change the pain of yesterday" but I can carry on to a better day. And i'm finding that place "between the burn and the lessons learned" and it's a pretty good place to be. What a shock. When you learn from your mistakes (FINALLY) you fix them and figure out how never to do that again.
So once again music has helped me realize something. I just wish it had the same impact on the rest of the world that it has on me. I wonder what it would be like then...

Mamselle......

Yesterday was a great day in some ways and a cruddy day in others. I went to San Antonio early in the morning to donate plasma. Now I had ulterior motives in wanting to donate seeing that you can make a little green in doing so. So I arrived at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center at about 9 a.m. only to find out that plasma donations are done by appointment only. Cruddy. So I kicked around San Antonio for a few hours and then headed to San Marcos to take care of the whole lawyer situation. Cruddy. I got to San Marcos, paid the lawyer and was done with everything I had to get done, so I headed out to see if Manny, Brent or Pulver was home.
Manny was there when I got there and we got to hang out for a bit before Pulver and Brent got home. It was a great afternoon. Just like old times. We made fun of each other, hit each other (you have to know us all to understand that one) and just hung out. It was getting close to time for me to leave when Pulver said that I couldn't without singing some tags. I hadn't even considered this for some reason and it made me a bit nervous to tell you the truth. I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it through one without bawling like a schoolgirl. But, we sang one anyway and I couldn't help but grin. I mean ear to ear grin. We sang tags for about 30 minutes and then I had to head out.
I then proceeded to cry the whole way back to San Antonio. Which, FYI, is not a good idea at around 5 p.m. on I-35 traffic. But it was a good cry in some ways. I realized just how much I missed those guys and just how much I am missing barbershop. I went from barbershopping almost every day to stopping cold turkey. i miss it with every fiver of my being and I wish I could get a "barbershop fix" here in Pleasanton but that is not going to happen. Just another consequence of my actions.

Guy Noir

I think that I am officially starting to get old. There are numerous signs that lead me to this conclusion. I cannot tolerate teenagers anymore. I think it's because they remind me of what a punk I was at that age. But nevertheless, they annoy me. Radio stations should just be destroyed along with all DJ's. I want to hear MUSIC when I tune to a station, not a commercial boasting that you play more music than any other station in the southern hemisphere. Where is it? Shut up and play some music. I have found myself listening to 88.3 a whole bunch lately. Yep, classical music. BUT there are hardly ANY interruptions. Just good music and no DJ telling me what he had for supper last night.
The biggest thing that has led me to this conclusion is Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. If you have never heard this program on NPR (National Public Radio) it is PHENOMENAL. I love it. Brent and I used to sit in the living room on tuesday nights and listen to the whole thing. It is very much like an old 1920's radio show. Different short plays, musical guests of all sorts and much more. Garrison is the host and I could listen to him talk for hours. The show is witty, smart and well written. Brent used to joke that we were like a bunch of old farmers sitting around the fire after plowing the fields all day. I haven't been able to listen to PHC since I have been back in Pleasanton because I could not find out what time and day it came on. Well this past Saturday I was headed home from the store and lo and behold there it was. I took a few detours and then sat in the driveway listening for about an hour. It put a huge smile on my face. I had forgotten how much I like it.
So Saturday nights at about 6 or & (I am not sure of the exact time it started) take a listen to 89.1 and check out Prairie Home Companion. I think you'll like it. And it sure beats most of the other junk on the radio these days.
I should have ended there but something else came to mind.
I don't really like american telvision much anymore. It's all the same. Doctors, lawyers, cops and reality shows are all we have. They're all the same. Not very inventive writing or acting in my opinion. With the exception of Nip/Tuck (Who-hoo!) and Dirty Jobs I don't watch any american television. (Well except for ESPN but that's sports, it doesn't count) I really enjoy BBC America. I watch quite a few shows there like Wire in the Blood, Touching Evil, The Street, Life on Mars, Rocketman and Ed vs. Spencer. They are so well written. Great acting and the storylines never go where you expect them to. Maybe I should just move there. Who know what shows aren't appearing adn I am missing them. Drat.
So enough of my whining. Check out 89.1 for PHC and BBC America for some great TV.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

I absolutely hate to wait on a phone call. It is one of my biggest pet peeves. Right up there with staring at me. I makes me want to kick a dog. And that is what I am doing right now. No not kicking a dog, waiting on a phone call.
I waited all afternoon yesterday for this same call and here I am again this morning doing the same thing. Now granted this person who is supposed to call is more than likely a very busy person. However, according to his secretary he is always unavailable or out of his office. Yesterday he took about a 2 1/2 hour lunch. Must be nice. I am actually just really annoyed at the moment. So I will stop whining now.

What in the World?!

After watching Nip/Tuck last night (which most of you know I am HIGHLY addicted to) I came to a conclusion. I think the reason I love it so much is you never know what is going to happen. I find myself sitting there waiting for a bomb to drop. And it usually catches me completely off guard.
Last night's episode was pretty run-of-the-mill. Sean was indecisive about his wife Julia (who I hate more than you could possibly imagine. I think I would hate Joely Richardson if I met her. She should die a slow and painful death...but I digress.) Christian was a complete jerk. Matt was well, Matt. Typical stuff. Until the last five minutes. All of the sudden I am sitting there with my jaw on the floor thinking, "what just happened?!!" The writers of this show are geniuses. Here I was thinking this was going to be a nice tame episode and then.....BOOM. I love it.
So you should check out Nip/Tuck. Now it may not be for everybody, but I have loved it for the past 3 seasons and now a 4th. Haven't missed an episode. And I just might let you borrow season 1 on DVD so you can catch up.

Change Your Mind

One of my all time favorite bands is Sister Hazel. Next to Dave Matthews they are right up there. On their "Fortress" CD they have numerous songs that make me happy and can make me think. Now one of these songs has always been a "get in a better mood" kind of song. But, as I listened to it the other day it hit me in a whole new way. It's called "Change Your Mind."

Hey, Hey
Did you ever think
There might be another way?
To just feel better,
Just feel better about today

Oh no-
If you never want to have
To turn and go away,
You might feel better
Might feel better if you stay.

Yeah yeah
I bet you haven't heard a word I've said
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough of all your trying
Just give up
The state of mind you're in:

[Chorus]
If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself.
If you want to be somebody else
Change your mind, change your mind.

Hey hey-
Have you ever danced in the rain
Or thanked the sun
Just for shining- just for shining
Or the sea?
Oh no! Take it all in
The world's a show,
And yeah, you look much better,
Look much better when you glow.

Yeah yeah
I bet you heard every word I’ve said.
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough of all your trying
Just give up
The state of mind you're in:

[Chorus]

Hey hey-
what ya say
We both go and seize the day.
'cause what's your hurry,
what's your hurry anyway?

Yeah yeah
I hope you’ve heard every word I've said
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough of all your tryin'
Just give up
The state of mind you're in:

If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of losing battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else,
Change your mind, change your mind.
Change your mind, change your mind.

Suddenly this song makes so much sense. If you're unhappy, if you're not satisfied, if what you've been doing for 29 years is NOT working, then do something about it. Change. Very simple. When I worked the day shift at the jail a few years ago I became very familiar with withdrawal symptoms of drug users. Heroin, cocaine you name it, I saw someone come down from it. But here is the thing. I am starting to think that maybe we don't give ourselves enough credit for just how powerful we may really be. Just think. We only use about 10% of our brain's capability. 10%. That is just ridiculous. And yet look at what we can do with that 10%. I am also becoming aware in a big way of just how much God works in every aspect of our lives. And he'll never give us more than we can handle. Never. I think that addiction and withdrawals and wahtever else you think you can't get through are really all in your head. If you REALLY want to stop doing what you are doing, then stop. If you truly want to I believe that you can. No matter what physical or emotional pain you may go through, you can make it through. Now there may be times you must ask for help, but that only makes you stronger. Especially when that help comes from God, your church family and your family.
This is why I love music and it has such a profound impact on my life. It always seems to open my eyes to such simple things that I have been missing. So I am trying to change my mind about a lot of things as of late. And I am finding that since I really do want to change, it's not as hard as I always made it out to be.

Stars and Such

I have always been a fan of the poet Ogden Nash. He's got such a unique way of looking at things and is so very eloquent I would say at putting ideas forth.
This is my favorite poem of his. I may write more on this one later but for now, enjoy! And remember, the grass may be greener on the other side but it's just as hard to cut.

Kinldy Unhitch That Star, Buddy
I hardly suppose I know anybody who wouldn't rather be a
success than a failure,
Just as I suppose every piece of crabgrass in the garden would
much rather be an azalea,
And in celestial circles all the run-of-the-mill angels would
rather be archangels or at least cherubim and seraphim,
And in the legal world all the little process-servers hope to
grow up into great big bailiffim and sheriffim.
Indeed, everybody wants to be a wow,
But not everybody knows exactly how.
Some people think they will eventually wear diamonds instead
of rhinestones
Only by everlastingly keeping their noses to their grhinestones,
And other people think they will be able to put in more time
at Palm Beach and the Ritz
By not paying too much attention to attendance at the office
but rather in being brilliant by starts and fits.
Some people after a full day's work sit up all night getting a
college education by correspondence,
While others seem to think they'll get just as far by devoting
their evenings to the study of the difference in temperament
between brunettance and blondance.
Some stake their all on luck,
And others put their faith in their ability to pass the buck.
In short, the world is filled with people trying to achieve
success,
And half of them think they'll get it by saying No and half of
them by saying Yes,
And if all the ones who say No said Yes, and vice versa, such
is the fate of humanity that ninety-nine per cent of them
still wouldn't be any bettter off than they were before,
Which perhaps is just as well because if everybody was a
success nobody could be contemptuous of anybody else and
everybody would start in all over again trying to be a bigger
success than everybody else so they would have somebody
to be contemptuous of and so on forevermore.
Because when people start hitching their wagons to a star,
That's the way they are.

Bump

So I have come to a conclusion. Mind you it is not some world changing one. Just something small that I think is pretty nifty. Here goes.
I think nudges are pretty cool. Let me see if I can define what a nudge is. A small push in the right direction from an unexpected source. Or sometimes even from the big man himself. Now I have been nudged many times in the past and let me tell you it always hacked me off. I always had some thought of the other person having no business in telling me what they thought I should do in any way, shape or form. But now I can see that's what makes nudges so great. And so effective. They always seem to come from out of nowhere and from the direction you least expect. And THAT is what makes them so effective. They jolt you out of your rut and makes you aware on a whole new level of what you're doing or not doing. it seems to me that God uses these as a not so subtle way of saying, "hey buddy. no deal. try something else 'cause this line of thinking ain't getting it done." (for some reason God became a hillbilly there in my head. Not sure what that was all about) Nudges wouldn't be as effective if they cam from the usual sources. Your family, friends and such. It takes that outside view that can strip away the bias and tell it like it is.
I am loving that I finally see the usefullness of such things. God is EVERYWHERE all the time. He's always looking out for you and trying to show you what you're doing wrong. Just a thought I had and thought I would share. So be on the lookout for those nudges. They're pretty cool.

Yay for flickr!

I've been trying to add images to my blogs for what seems like forever. (actually only about 2 weeks, but it seems like forever) I finally figured it out. It's not that hard, I am just an idiot.
I took this picture yesterday while playing around with the digital camera. Now the Ipitch (that's the white one and Todd's ridiculous nickname for it) was my first pitch pipe ever. I bought it at Harmony Marketplace in Salt Lake City at my first International contest ever. The Bb of course quit working about a week after we got home. (Funny thing was that Brent bought his at the same time I did and his Bb quit working at the same time.) The second pitch pipe you see is one of my favorite possessions. It is from Czechoslovakia and was made in 1908. It was given to me by a great friend named Daron Praetzel right before he moved to Ohio. Daron had one that he used all of the time and he collects others. When he moved he gave one to me and one to Todd. It was a bit emotional actually since he was giving his others to his 3 brothers.
Anyway, these represent probably the one thing in this world that makes me really happy. Music (and barbershop of course but that's a given) So I really just wanted to try and get the picture on here and then I figured i'd give a short inadequate description. So there it is.

Thank You

I just wanted to write out a quick thank you note. To all of those people in my life who I have wronged in so many ways. To anyone who has been affected by my life decisions. To my church family and to my family. Thank you. Thank you for ONE more chance. There always seems to be one more waiting. You all continue to show me how amazing christ's love is and just how infinite his patience is. What a plan he must have for me if he continues to allow others to forgive the terrible things I have done.
Please know that this time things WILL be different. Light bulbs have gone off and there is an awareness that after 29 years and so many bad decions that what I have been doing is NOT working and WILL NOT work. Thank you for sticking by me through more thick than thin. I know that these are mere words and yet they are all I can give at the moment. I have no word to stand by nor anything else. I want nothing more than to rebuild new and better relationships and freindships with you all. Please know that I am willing to do whatever I have to do to repair and fix the things I have done. Yet I know that there are miles to journey before I can get there. I am willing to go at whatever speed and to accomodate what I must to allow these relationships to grow. I love you all. I have a head start on heaven. I have seen Christ today.