A new song

Here's the lyrics to a new song I am working on.  It's pretty self-explanatory, but let me start by saying that it can come across harsher than I meant if you can't hear a folksy twanging rock beat in the background.  Also, this song intentionally paints a picture of being a bit of a hellion.  I still believe in God and love him dearly... I just have embraced a different lifestyle, if that makes sense.  I guess you're going to read what you're going to read, and I should just let it be.  Sorry, Mom.



I was born a Pastor's kid
And I did the stuff my daddy did.
I went to church and said my prayers
We went to campouts and we sat out on lawn chairs

I remember when my sins were simple
The Bible says don't do "this" so I did "that"
But now my mind gets quite unraveled
My world is full of colors, it aint so white and black

We used to sit around the fire singing songs of reckless abandon to Jesus
Now I sit around the fire- drinking in whiskey and good times with pagan friends

Oh I was so young back then
I said so much self-righteous sh*t
Oh I knew who was out and who was "in"
Knew every Bible verse pertaining to sin
And I'm ashamed to admit it
And I swear to God that I'll quit it
Cuz I'm a ____ _____ screw up just like everyone else.

I was born a Pastor's kid...

Asheville, NC

Julie and I visited Asheville yesterday- it was refreshing to walk around in a new town, taste some of their local cuisine, drink their beer, and chat with some eccentric folks...  Here's some pics from the trip.

 Cool chair art

 Lunch at the Laughing Seed (Vegetarian) Cafe

 My style of the day

Fantastic Organic IPA by Mother Earth- Julie got a Gin Rickey, or as she calls it, "Summer in a cup"

Hempnut Burger! So good...

Iron. Woman.

Mason Goblet.  Does it get any classier?

Sweetest gate ever.

Julie making a clay pot "Sing" 

Freaky artwork at a local brewery, "Wedge"

We tasted The Precious... Wedge's 9.9% ABV Belgian "Golem"- DELICIOUS.  I mean, best beer I've ever had delicious.

 Pizza from a local food truck: 

Asparagus with Gouda on one side, Mushroom and Arugula on the other.  

 We wanted to see the Biltmore mansion, but the tickets were 60 bucks a pop!  So we watched their crappy video about how they have so generously opened the mansion up to "all" who can afford it and sat on a bench instead.

Our last stop was at the Pisgah brewery where we stood around a bonfire, listened to live music and tasted more scrumptious beer.  We met a strange man who lives off the grid, has no electricity or running water, and is also a wedding photographer.  

All in all, it was a great trip.

-Tim

Oh, 32 years of love, life, and longing

My parents have been married for 32 years today.  Hokey smokes.  That's like if I had been married 8 times longer than I have...



I've been thinking about the love they share, the pain they've endured together, and the ways in which I've seen them
    a
          d
        a
        p
              t 

to each other through different stages in life.

I remember a time when my dad was firting with my mom in the kitchen while us kids were getting grossed out.  Come to think of it, that happened a lot.  They really grossed us out.

Then there were days in which I remember my parents apologizing to us when they had let their voices get a little too angry with one another during a disagreement.  Even when I could tell things were rough, they made it a point to explain to us that they loved us and they loved each other and they were never going to leave.

I remember how my mom scratched dad's back after a long day of work.

I remember how dad would write "secret" love messages to mom on napkins, white boards, refrigerator doors, etc.  They weren't very secret.

Mom would roll her eyes when dad would bring ANOTHER piece of junk car home to rebuild, but then she would also give her blessing, because she knew how happy it made my dad to fix things.

Dad might give mom a small heart attack every time he took us boys out skiing or motorcycle riding or "mud whomping"-- but he always called her while we were away to remind her of his love and let her know that he was safe.

Dang.

I don't know how you guys have done it- or why I was lucky enough to get a front row seat through it all-- but I am grateful

and

I N S P I R E D

by your love.

Happy anniversary.

-Tim