Today was just a really cool day. Babysitting was… eh. E, the five year old boy, is difficult to deal with. Very much a “neener, neener, neener” kind of kid. However, the 20 month old, J, went with Mom, so it was easier than normal.
After babysitting, I headed off for coffee with Jon of Idiot Wind. It was good, it was incredibly helpful. He had a lot of insight about some whining complaints I’ve been having, and this gem: “Ha. Your subconscious was laughing at you in a dark corner.”
Then, dinner with my bible study and off to the Derek Webb concert. Holy crap. It was really and truly completely amazing. I was not a Derek Webb fan but I now am. Nothing like a modern day prophet to make you realize how jacked up you are.
Derek Webb’s a controversial figure in the Christian world. Naturally, he uses words like “whore” in his songs, criticizes the modern church, and challenges us to believe that Christ really did mean everything He said.
Yeah.
Nothing like coffee with my brother in Christ and a modern day prophet dressed as a rock star to get my head on straight.
I have a meme to respond to, from my friend Lara, but first, I want to talk to you about my taste in music.
And how lame I am.
Here’s the thing. I live in an area that is seriously musical. The kind of place where people say, “Oh, yeah. He’s got the Chapel Hill sound.” The home of James Taylor, Ben Folds, and trillions of other amazingly amazing little acts.
The thing is, I hate live music. It just doesn’t do anything for me. I just stand there, wondering when I get to sit down, and why all these obnoxiouspeople are intruding upon my personal space.
In addition to hating live music, I really, really am uncool.
I never know who the hot new artists are. I never know who the random bands are. I’m always coming to things late.
Mims? “This is Why I’m Hot”? Love it. About three months after everyone else.
The OTHER thing is… I’m FRIENDS with all these people who adore all these random bands. And I am so pedestrian with my choices. My James Taylor (who is, apparently, somewhat retro cool) and my cheesey Christian jams and my ridiculous rap.
Witness a discussion had last October at my church.
Me: Man, I love Sweater Weather.
Friend: Oh, yeah, they’re a great band.
Me: What?
Friend: Sweater Weather!
Me: I meant… the temperature. You wear sweaters?
Friend: You were almost cool.
Me: Accidentally
Witness my most recent iTunes downloads:
Better Days, Goo Goo Dolls
This is Why I’m Hot, Mims
Walk it Out, I don’t even KNOW who it’s by
Natural Blues, Moby
Made to Love, TobyMac.
That’s okay.
I know I’m a geek.
I love music. I love individual lines and tiny moments. If it’s not so cool… I’m okay with that.
Last night, I burned a CD, put on warm clothes, made sure I had my debit card and my keys, and I left school.
I just drove.
I had no destination, I just knew I needed quiet time, alone, in the dark to think. I drove out Highway 1, north. I made a pit stop for gas and a warm sandwich at Sheetz, and then continued on.
It was amazing. I drove out about an hour, and then turned around.
Something about the darkness and the music I’d picked and the sheer peace of it.
