Apomo

Saw this on the rear window of a pickup today. It made me chuckle.]]>

The concert was held at Arco Arena in Sacramento and the place was packed out to the roof. We were up in the nosebleeds stage right, but close enough to see fairly well. Mandissa is from Sacramento so the hometown crowd went bananas for her as the opener.

The first half was just ok. But after the intermission Chris Daugherty rocked the house to open the second half! Elliot was better than I thought he’d be. I figured his voice wouldn’t do well in a large space but the he came across well. Mcphee was sexy hot! It was kind of funny though to see her barefoot in an evening dress. My wife says she broke her ankle a couple months ago so she’s probably rehabing it. The second half ended w/Taylor Hicks coming out of the crowd and singing all the way to the stage high fiving people. He did two or three songs and was good. But he really took off in the encore. He went absolutely manic w/his harmonica and quasi-Pentecostal dance moves. That dude has so much energy and passion you can’t help but be drawn into his performance. I like singers are passionate.

Speaking of passion. In the same row as us was a middle aged Mom and a handful of teeny bopper girls. They were all into as you’d expect. But when Ace came out they went especially bonkers, especially the MOM! She started screaming, waving her arms and then she sat down in her chair and started CRYING! ????? Are you kidding me? My wife and I were cracking up.

We had a good time. There were approx. 16,000 people there and what are the chances that one of my new co-workers had seats just four rows up from me in the same section? He was laughing at me this morning because I was bouncing around in my seat so much and hootin’ and hollerin’ and giving Chris the horned fingers thing. Rock on bra!]]>

I’m going to compile a list of “secular” songs that speak to biblical truth like this one does. It’ll make for a good worship comp CD for myself and maybe serve as a catalog for a future church project. I think it’d be neat to mix old hymns in w/contemporary music in worship. Connecting the old with the new and joining hands with the signs of goodness in culture.

*********************

I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life
It’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right…

As I, turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin’ my mind
I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat
Who am I, to be blind? Pretending not to see their needs
A summer’s disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man’s soul
They follow each other on the wind ya’ know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)

I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It’s time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they’re not alone?

A willow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart
And a washed-out dream
(Washed-Out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind, ya’ see
Cause they got no place to be
That’s why I’m starting with me
(Starting with me!)

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself and then make a change)

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Change his ways-Ooh!)
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make that…
(Take a look at yourself and then make that…)
Change!

I’m starting with the man in the mirror,
(Man in the mirror-Oh yeah!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
No message could have been any clearer
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
(You gotta get it right, while you got the time)
(’Cause when you close your heart)
You can’t close your… your mind!
(Then you close your… mind!)
That man, that man, that man, that man
With that man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
That man, that man, that man
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
You know… That man
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself and then make a change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Oh yeah!)
Gonna feel real good now!
Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Ooooh…)
Oh no, no no…
I’m gonna make a change
It’s gonna feel real good!
Come on!
(Change…)
Just lift yourself
You know
You’ve got to stop it. Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make that change!)
I’ve got to make that change, today!
Hoo!
(Man in the mirror)
You got to
You got to not let yourself…
Brother…
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make that change!)
You know-I’ve got to get that man, that man…
(Man in the mirror)
You’ve got to
You’ve got to move! Come on! Come on!
You got to…
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand up and lift yourself, now!
(Man in the mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make that change)
Gonna make that change… come on!
(Man in the mirror)
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know…
(Change…)
Make that change]]>

Listened to this song two or three times yesterday. What a great song. This would be a great song to illustrate a lesson on discretion and watching your tongue and being smart in how and who you deal with in life. I wish “Christian” artists would write stuff like this. It’s so powerful.

I think about all the trouble I’ve gotten myself into over the years with my own stupidity. Most of it I brought on myself. Sometimes it was the stupidity of others, but mostly it was self-inflicted stupidity due to self-centeredness, arrogance, and well…stupidity.

Sometimes I beat myself up and am pretty embarrassed by my past behavior. There are places where I’m literally ashamed to show my face. Maybe that’s one reason I want to move to a new state. I want a clean slate with people. I’m tired of getting that sinking feeling in my gut when I see some people at the store or at a restaurant. I’ve found that most people will only forgive you to a point. They’ll be nice again after water has gone under the bridg but they rarely forget. The specter of your past is omnipresent with most people. I’m the same way though so I can’t point my finger too much. There are places I go that I am polite but I can’t seem to forget either. I try but their own stupidity reminds me of my own so it’s not a happy time.

,
I hope these are lessons learned.

Trouble, by Coldplay
****************************

Oh no, I see,
A spider web is tangled up with me,
And I lost my head,
The thought of all the stupid things I said,
Oh no what’s this?
A spider web, and I’m caught in the middle,
So I turned to run,
The thought of all the stupid things I’ve done,

I never meant to cause you trouble,
And I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
Oh no, I never meant to do you harm.

Oh no I see,
A spider web and it’s me in the middle,
So I twist and turn,
But here I am in my little bubble,

Singing, I never meant to cause you trouble,
I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
Oh no, I never meant to do you harm.

They spun a web for me,
They spun a web for me,
They spun a web for me.

]]>

On the way to work I figured I’d listen to something besides U2. Put in my James Blunt CD. Listened to it through a time or two. On the way home decided to just listen to the radio instead. His songs are too depressing.

Anyway, hit EJECT and as the Blunt CD came out the radio came on the the sounds of…James Blunt. Same CD, same song, and almost the same spot where I’d ejected. I laughed a little. Then the next song came on. Guess who? U2’s “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, my favorite song. I can’t get away from U2 even if I try. haha.

I thought that was too funny.]]>

What is it that you see
People find all kinds of things
That bring them to their knees

I see an expression
So clear and so true
That changes the atmosphere
When you walk to the room

So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you its no use
I cant see what you see
When I look at the world

When the night is someone elses
And youre trying to get some sleep
When your thoughts are too expensive
To ever want to keep

When theres all kinds of chaos
And everyone is walking lame
You dont even blink now do you
Dont even look away

So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you its no use
I cant see what you see
When I look at the world

I cant wait any longer
I cant wait til Im stronger
Cant wait any longer
To see what you see
When I look at the world

Im in the waiting room
I cant see for the smoke
I think of you and your holy book
When the rest of us choke

Tell me tell me
What do you see
Tell me tell me
Whats wrong with me

**********************

I listened to this song about 10 times on the way to work today. What a powerful prayer!]]>

Got home and although I’d planned to mow the yard and clean up the mess in the garage from he garage sale the day before I was pretty tired so I decided to take a nap. Showered and and just gotten comfortable. “BRRRIIIIIIAAAAANNNN!!!” my wife hollers out. I ignored her. “BRIAN!!!!”. Sigh. “Yes, dear!”. “SOMMBBUUDDYY’S HERE TO SEEEEEE YOUUUUU!”. I drag my tired ass out of bed for the second time and go to see who’s at the door. It’s my neighbor. He has an extra ticket to the Raider vs. 49′er game and we’re leaving in 30 minutes. Whoo hoo! I’m not tired any more! I’m HEEAAALLLED!! Hallelujah! haha.

So for of us trekked over there for the game. Had alot of fun.

Going to a Raider game at the Oakland Colisium is an experience in itself no matter who they’re playing. It’s even more exciting when they play the Niners, my favorite team. It’s crazy, creepy, and scary all at the same time. Like a haunted house. Raider Nation fans are a different breed, inbred is more like it I think.

It all starts from the moment you get on the train to the stadium. The car is full of silver and black with lots of face paint, skull and cross bones, and beer breath. It occurred to me that if Osama’s boys wanted to blow up a train in the Bay Area they wouldn’t even have to build a bomb. They could just get on one of the Raider fan trains, yell “Allah Akbar!” and light a Zippo. The alcohol fumes would ignite and you’d have a mini mushroom cloud over the train station.

Once you get off the train you head over a bridge from the the station to the stadium. The bridge is solid concrete, no paint, and the walls are chainlink fence the encases the top part of the bridge so you’re walking through a tunnel or something. The bridge goes over a couple of junk car lots and a fetid, swampy “stream” the was full of garbage and a couple of emaciated ducks floating around nibbling on cigarette butts and stubbies. It’s shoulder to shoulder packed in the tunnel for about 200 yards. I felt like a Jew heading to Auschwitz or something. I was starting to wonder what I’d gotten myself into.

The exit of the tunnel was ringed in barbed wire and the massive gray concrete stadium loomed overhead. Again, no paint or decor, just gray concrete like a prison. I think that’s on purpose because the fans all looked like something from a “Prison Break” casting call. Vatos, cholos, hoods, gangstas, and general bad ass kind of people. Lots of sagging drawers and exposed boxers, beanies pulled over Ray Ban sunglasses, Chinos and wife beaters, flannel plaid shirts, tattoos everywhere, lots of body jewelery and guys flashing gang signs with their fingers. And everybody chanting “RAAAIIIII-DERRRRRSSSSS!!!”, “RAAIIIII-DERRRRSSS!!!”, “RAIII-DERRRRSS”. I wasn’t sure whether I ought to be impressed or skerred. Once we got in the concourse it was much of the same except smellier, more crowded, and louder. 

We had good seats, about 12 rows up from the field near the end zone. The infamous “Black Hole” where all the really crazy Raider fans sit was to our right. It looked like an expo for a Spirit Halloween Store. They were all done up w/gorilla outfits, mad Pirate outfits and shoulder pads with spikes and chains hanging from the sides and all sorts of crazy stuff. One guy had a Niner helmet with a rubber decapitated head inside of it. Another gal had a full length skeleton hanging from a noose sporting a Joe Montana jersey. Great stuff.

Oh yeah, they played football too. The Raider fans really get into the game. When the Niners ran out on the field the boos were so loud it actually got distorted in my ear. I had to cover my ears when the Raiders came out on the field to the sounds of “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC. It was impressive. The place was rocking! Warren Sapp strutted his stuff right in front of us and everybody went nuts.

My Niners got crushed in the game but that made it even better because the fans went insane w/every interception and touchdown. They were fun to watch.

The Raiderettes were fun to watch too. They were directly in front of our section. Woo hoo! I didn’t even notice the game until the second half. They started doing some sexy routine and then they started playing “It’s Getting Hot in Here!” by Nelly. I thought that was pretty funny.

The chick next to me spent about 45 minutes on her phone trying to tell her friend across the stadium where she was sitting. “I’m right here! Can’t you see me waving? Manuel’s wearing his Raider jersey!”. haha. I finally told her that I’d be happy to stand up and take my shirt off and scream “Go Niners!!”. I figured that the glare of my white man boobs or that the whole section would converge on me and pummel me would help her friend figure out where we were sitting. They thought that was pretty funny.

Well, the after game glow was crazier than the game because now all the cholos and gang bangers were all liquored up. RAIII-DEERRRRSS! RAI-DERRS!!“. Over and over. Kind of like the tomahawk chop chant from Florida State.

We managed to make it back to the train without incident. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the fights. In the section next to us were about four Niner fans. They happened to be sitting about four rows behind about 10 San Quentin rejects who were, of course, loud Raider fans. By the end of the game the two groups were jawing back and forth pretty good and it got to the point that people around them starting warning the Niner guys to back off. One guy mooned ‘em, the others were standing on their chairs and giving them the finger, another guy stuck his tongue between two fingers at ‘em and all sorts of stuff. Finally the Niner fans starting trudging up the stairs and giving the finger to everybody all the way up to the concourse. All the Raider fans started jeering and laughing at them as the went up the stairs. All in good humor of course. One jeer that made me laugh was ”Take that shit back across the Bay. There aint no rainbows in the Black Hole mother fuckaaaaaaa!”

As we were going back over the bridge of death to the train station I noticed what looked like a pretty heated discussion between a group of Niner fans and a group of Raider fans going on in a parking lot down below. They were facing off, thumping chests and doing all that stuff you see gang bangers do on Spike TV. Their women were trying to push them apart and get them to get into their respective cars but the guys kept jumping back out of the cars and jawing and pulling their jerseys at each other and all sorts of crazy stuff. I thought for sure a Glock or Uzi would appear from inside one of the voluminous baggy jeans and I’d be witness to a mutiple homicide. But the women prevailed and they all got in their cars and drove off waving the finger at each other out the window. The Raider Nation thugs were driving a lowered 80’s T-bird w/spinners; the Niner guys were in a minivan. I thought that was pretty funny.

We saw a guy at the train station all dressed up like Gene Simmons KISS character. I got his picture.

Got home at about 11 pm and crashed. In retrospect I think I’d like to go back. It was entertaining to say the least. Raider Nation fans are loud, raucous and passionate about their football. That makes it interesting. Alot better than the croissant and quiche crowd across the Bay at the Niners game.]]>

Had a good time last night too. Went out to eat with one of my new Mormon friends from work. His wife, my wife and son, and another couple. I felt a little weird at times because they’re literally about half my age. We all got along ok but it was weird to me knowing that they’re “kids” compared to me.

Afterwards we all took a drive to the new Mormon temple in Sacramento for a tour. It’s open to the public until they dedicate it on Labor Day. Evidently once it’s dedicated you can’t go inside unless you’re a “worthy Mormon”.

The temple was absolutely beautiful! The outside is polished granite and the inside was stunning. The craftsmanship and materials were just beautiful. Their baptistry was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. The neatest thing to me about the whole place was it’s understated elegance. When it comes to decor I’ve always believed that less is more. That’s how they did their temple. It was absolutely beautiful and ornate but not in a gaudy, overdone, gothic kind of way. In fact, having been to the White House and being able to compare the two I wish the White House was as nice as their temple. The style is appropriate for a White House type setting.

Anyway, it was pretty neat to see the temple and see how they worship there. I’m glad my son was able to go and experience it as well.]]>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETibGnGgXEo]]>

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6805063692754011230&q=bono+bush

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