A Not So Exciting Update

Well... Not too much going on here. The last week or two has been characterized by lots of really good new music. I have had the pleasure of "designing" some friends' myspace sites for there bands... Check em out, if you know someone who needs a myspace designed I'm for hire.

Emily Franklin (album artwork pictured)

Austin Crane

Archer Avenue Studio

Last week Kylene and I went to David Bazan's show. It was really really good. We got out way too late and realized that the streets are eerily empty at 2:30am. I also didn't get a chance to ask my question. Someone beat me with there "is there a particular source you get your sense of tragedy from?" question. I had a few lined up. After hearing a few songs, I wanted to ask what was with the acoustic simulator pedal. Tomorrow night we are going to the Derek Webb show. Kinda nervous and not sure what to expect about the new electronic set. I'm looking forward to it though.

I also recieved two new pieces of music that have been on rotation for a few the past few days nonstop. Austin Crane's "Place at the Table" is a solid sophomore release. Jill Andrews (of the Everybodyfields) EP. I never knew 6 songs could sound so good. I've started kinda writing and playing some songs in my head. Maybe they'll make there way to a hard drive sometime...

Life goes on...

Well, not too much new to report on here in the Windy City. Temperatures have fallen down to a Carolina winter, high of 55, overcast and rainy. School is in full swing for me and Kylene's job(s) are very much up and running. The past six months have been quite an interesting path. Besides each other, nothing in our life has stayed the same. We may still live in the same country, speak the same language, but are certainly in an-other world. Perhaps the sensation that has been most surprising and welcomed is the sense of rediscovery that has taken place. I can't recall this profound sense of fullness, a kind of contentedness that has been imputed to me. Being cast against the absurd seems a little less probable these days. Toiling in a labyrinth of despair and disillusionment has now given way to a harvest of fulfillment and joy that is too early to calculate. The grass does grow greener in some places than others. Amidst great joy has come great loss, leaving friends and families of whom nothing was too little to share or discuss has taken its toll. Though we moved here with great friends and are making more, until you move into a new community one doesn't realize just how far down the roots go. It's not a matter of replanting but of letting that dead seed fall into the ground and growing again. Moving brings about some of the most basic questions of our human existence. They are more than threatened, but thrown out entirely. Technology allows for alleged intimacy but the distance remains. Friendship is undoubtedly a matter of quantity not quality, life goes on.

Where the Streets Have Names...

Here are some shots of the "neighborhood" we live in.

Trip to the White Sox Game!

Last week we had the chance to go the White Sox game with some people from the church we are now attending here in Chicago. We left an inning too early and missed the victory against the Oakland A's. I tried so hard to get on the TV with some kid's sign I found on the ground, no luck. Only little kids and cute girls. I am neither little nor cute.

*Also included is Mr Jack's new "trick" of watching the alley keeping us safe.

Trip to Oak Park

Today Kylene and I took a trip to Oak Park. Home to many of Frank Lloyd Wright's buildings and homes. Thanks to a self-guided walking tour guide book I bought back in April, we had a great time. If you come visit I'll give you a tour...

Some Pictures...

A few boxes and bags of stuff to Goodwill later...

We officially live in Chicago!

So we have been moving into our new place for the past couple of days. Pictures will come shortly, we are still pretty much drowning in boxes. It is a cute, very little place. It will be ready for visitors shortly, so everyone buy your tickets.

Just wanted to update everyone really quickly, I (Kylene) have been offered a well paying job as a nanny to two adorable little girls. I am very excited about the offer but am waiting until the end of this week to make a decision. I am still hoping for the job at the school because it would help to further my future career goals, but the nanny job is a great one too. So I will have official word on employment by Friday! That takes a huge burden off our shoulders.

Now we are just enjoying our time together and with our good friends who live here. It's kind of like a mini-vacation since neither of us has school or work right now. We miss you all dearly, like I said, we are ready for visitors!