David Gilmour made the following statement:"Like most people I want to do everything I can to persuade the G8 leaders to make huge commitments to the relief of poverty and increased aid to the third world. It's crazy that America gives such a paltry percentage of its GNP to the starving nations. Any squabbles Roger and the band have had in the past are so petty in this context, and if re-forming for this concert will help focus attention then it's got to be worthwhile."
What I wouldn't give to be at this show. I've been into Pink Floyd ever since their pig-shaped blimp crashed into the roof of my church around the time of the Division Bell tour.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Mike Doughty on God
"There's a lot about Jesus that I really dig. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That strikes me as absolutely beautiful. That central Christian idea of God turning himself into a human and volunteering for human suffering is so moving to me.
"I wanted to say that God can be a huge part of your life without being a fanatic. What fanatic, Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, is really compassionate? The God I struggle to have faith in is all about compassion.
"It's fucked up to me that to believe in God is to be on the wrong side in the culture wars. Why the fuck do we let the Republicans lay claim to God?!"
I've been a fan of Doughty's for many years and have met him on a couple of times. Very cool guy. His blog is quite entertaining. He did a nice little entry about how much he loves Oregon and the Doug Fir while he was here touring last month.
"I wanted to say that God can be a huge part of your life without being a fanatic. What fanatic, Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, is really compassionate? The God I struggle to have faith in is all about compassion.
"It's fucked up to me that to believe in God is to be on the wrong side in the culture wars. Why the fuck do we let the Republicans lay claim to God?!"
I've been a fan of Doughty's for many years and have met him on a couple of times. Very cool guy. His blog is quite entertaining. He did a nice little entry about how much he loves Oregon and the Doug Fir while he was here touring last month.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Elliott-Pederson Family 1
It's once in a great while that all the members in my family happen to be at the same place at the same time. This weekend was one of those times; without a major holiday, marriage, or death, we all happened to be in Central Oregon to get this pic taken, brothers, sisters, spouses, future spouses, grandkids, and all. I could have never guessed that two divorces and a blended family could produce something so beautiful. I am truly blessed.
The Pain of Growing Old
I was in Central Oregon this past weekend for my brother's bachelor party (the big day is June 25th). It's amazing to me how much different bachelor parties have become as all of us have aged. Most of the group from this weekend also happened to be at Dustin's bachelor party about 5 years ago, where things were much more out of hand, including Dustin tackling a tree in the front yard and falling over my car later on (his face was ripped to shreds 2 days before his wedding; needless to say, his wife was not happy with any of us).
This weekend began with a poorly played round of golf that ended early (let's go, I'm too drunk to play...). We then headed over to Dustin's for BBQ, beer, and poker. As we sat around, we BSed of years passed and of the all the wild things we used to do. It struck me strange that a bunch of men in their mid and late 20's at a bachelor party were spending their time talking about their crazy antics rather than making new ones. Was it fondness in which we looked back on all the wild times, or did we look at it as "how could we be so stupid"? I honestly could not tell.
It often scares me when confronted with my fading childhood. B makes fun of my age and does claim on many occasions that I am acting immature, but perhaps it's because I'm so deperately trying to cling on to a youth that is no longer there. The hardest transition to adulthood for me as been accepting that I am no longer a kid, as much as I wish I was. As I drank my beer and became sleepy at the early hour of 11pm, I wondered if the best has come and gone, or is it yet to come?
It reminds me of an episode of Friends in which Chandler and Ross get so excited about their friend Gandolf coming to town so they can "paaarty, whoo!" But they soon find that that's not what they want to do; they'd rather kick it in the coffee shop and talk with the rest of the friends. It's like me: I hate going to Taylor's and other bars where the music is too loud and I can't talk with anybody. I'd much rather kick it at a chill place conversing with people. Of course, I'd much rather talk about the now, as opposed to this weekend where we talked a lot about the past. It just depresses me. That's a chapter in my life I can't experience again and I'd rather not dwell on it. Instead, I want to write new chapters with new experiences with my friends, with B, with my future family. Hopefully, I end up with one hell of a great book, not one where the first part was good, but then it got lame after the first few chapters.
This weekend began with a poorly played round of golf that ended early (let's go, I'm too drunk to play...). We then headed over to Dustin's for BBQ, beer, and poker. As we sat around, we BSed of years passed and of the all the wild things we used to do. It struck me strange that a bunch of men in their mid and late 20's at a bachelor party were spending their time talking about their crazy antics rather than making new ones. Was it fondness in which we looked back on all the wild times, or did we look at it as "how could we be so stupid"? I honestly could not tell.
It often scares me when confronted with my fading childhood. B makes fun of my age and does claim on many occasions that I am acting immature, but perhaps it's because I'm so deperately trying to cling on to a youth that is no longer there. The hardest transition to adulthood for me as been accepting that I am no longer a kid, as much as I wish I was. As I drank my beer and became sleepy at the early hour of 11pm, I wondered if the best has come and gone, or is it yet to come?
It reminds me of an episode of Friends in which Chandler and Ross get so excited about their friend Gandolf coming to town so they can "paaarty, whoo!" But they soon find that that's not what they want to do; they'd rather kick it in the coffee shop and talk with the rest of the friends. It's like me: I hate going to Taylor's and other bars where the music is too loud and I can't talk with anybody. I'd much rather kick it at a chill place conversing with people. Of course, I'd much rather talk about the now, as opposed to this weekend where we talked a lot about the past. It just depresses me. That's a chapter in my life I can't experience again and I'd rather not dwell on it. Instead, I want to write new chapters with new experiences with my friends, with B, with my future family. Hopefully, I end up with one hell of a great book, not one where the first part was good, but then it got lame after the first few chapters.
Such a Lovely Drive
I was lucky enough to spend some time in Central Oregon this weekend. It's not often enough that I make it back to see my family and friends. One of the strange benefits of heading home is the beautiful drive. This time of year is such a great time to take a drive with the sunroof down, listening to some tunes. I put on the new Gorillaz, which I was highly disappointed with (with the exception of a few tracks), and the new Black Eyed Peas, which I was diggin'. The bummer about the drive is the other drivers who feel the need to go so ridiculously slow (could they at least do the speed limit?) and it's one lane practically the whole way there. But there is so much to see while driving at 40mph: the highway follows alongside the river and there are the Sahalie Falls at the top of the mountain, which are beautiful. There are also plenty of quaint little places to check out on the drive. I hear the Log Cabin Inn has a great breakfast, which I will have to take my beautiful B to someday. I've also tried the infamous Logger Cakes at the Vida Cafe, which were something else. If time permits me this summer, I will definitely have to make a couple of drives over this summer with my beautiful B as she head to the C.O. for work.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Memorial Day Thoughts (Belated)
My good friend, Sanjay, sent this email out to his friends a couple of days ago and I felt compelled to share it. It talks a little about the death of U of O student, Joel Meyer, who passed away this weekend while at Shasta. Such a tragedy...
May, 30, 2005
I guess I haven't written one of those long mass emails for a long time so I'm about due. Unfortunately, it was spurred with somber news. Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember War Veterans, but its also more than that, it just not just another Holiday off work, some off have to work anyway. I know now that it is a time to remember your loved ones you lost or possibly some people you've never even met. This is one day to STOP! Just take a moment and think... think about what and who is really important to you... think about those who you've lost, than think about who you have...think about who you haven't spoken too but were thinking about calling a few days ago...think about those people who you were close friends but are not anymore and you really don't know why?...think about all those people you care about and love.... what would happen if you found out they passed away yesterday? How would that make you feel?
Well the strange thing is it happened to me today. Today was like any other day. I woke up went to work, you know the same routine, worrying about money, worrying about jobs, worrying about where I will be in 2 months and thinking about certain friendships and relationships...
I woke up from my nap today and I happened to leave the channel on the 6 O'clock news. I heard a University of Oregon student had passed away at Lake Shasta. They showed the picture for just a few seconds and my heart started pumping and my mind started racing because that face looked so familiar. The news story came back and I knew who it was, I was hoping it wasn't anyone I knew, but it wasn't! It was my fellow business school classmate and friend JOEL MEYER. Joel and I were not close friends, but he was my classmate for at least 2 terms, we were getting our Business Administration Minor together. Joel was a very smart guy, he was very dedicated and took charge in our group and he loved to share in some Sanjay humor during class. I still have his number in my phone, I still have our group project together, it is so trippy, we must remember one day we are here, tomorrow may never be...
So please, today is the perfect excuse to call and reach out to those people I listed above. No matter how small of an effort at least you tried to reach out. Some of you must be saying there goes Sentimental Sanjay again, yeah maybe, but I have to tell each and everyone of you, family, friends, coworkers and whoever, however and regardless of how long or what from... YOU HAVE ALL INFLUENCED MY LIFE AND I THANK YOU ALL, I CARE ABOUT ALL OF YOU AND LOVE EACH OF YOU IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM.
Please take a moment and at least think about calling someone you haven't and tell them how you feel. I know it makes my day when someone tells me they were thinking of me...
I would love to hear from all of you, just a few minutes out of your day would mean a great deal. I just wished I knew all the emails to everyone I knew...
I hope all is well
My love and prayers go out to all your hearts
Thank You
-Sanjay Prasad
May, 30, 2005
I guess I haven't written one of those long mass emails for a long time so I'm about due. Unfortunately, it was spurred with somber news. Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember War Veterans, but its also more than that, it just not just another Holiday off work, some off have to work anyway. I know now that it is a time to remember your loved ones you lost or possibly some people you've never even met. This is one day to STOP! Just take a moment and think... think about what and who is really important to you... think about those who you've lost, than think about who you have...think about who you haven't spoken too but were thinking about calling a few days ago...think about those people who you were close friends but are not anymore and you really don't know why?...think about all those people you care about and love.... what would happen if you found out they passed away yesterday? How would that make you feel?
Well the strange thing is it happened to me today. Today was like any other day. I woke up went to work, you know the same routine, worrying about money, worrying about jobs, worrying about where I will be in 2 months and thinking about certain friendships and relationships...
I woke up from my nap today and I happened to leave the channel on the 6 O'clock news. I heard a University of Oregon student had passed away at Lake Shasta. They showed the picture for just a few seconds and my heart started pumping and my mind started racing because that face looked so familiar. The news story came back and I knew who it was, I was hoping it wasn't anyone I knew, but it wasn't! It was my fellow business school classmate and friend JOEL MEYER. Joel and I were not close friends, but he was my classmate for at least 2 terms, we were getting our Business Administration Minor together. Joel was a very smart guy, he was very dedicated and took charge in our group and he loved to share in some Sanjay humor during class. I still have his number in my phone, I still have our group project together, it is so trippy, we must remember one day we are here, tomorrow may never be...
So please, today is the perfect excuse to call and reach out to those people I listed above. No matter how small of an effort at least you tried to reach out. Some of you must be saying there goes Sentimental Sanjay again, yeah maybe, but I have to tell each and everyone of you, family, friends, coworkers and whoever, however and regardless of how long or what from... YOU HAVE ALL INFLUENCED MY LIFE AND I THANK YOU ALL, I CARE ABOUT ALL OF YOU AND LOVE EACH OF YOU IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM.
Please take a moment and at least think about calling someone you haven't and tell them how you feel. I know it makes my day when someone tells me they were thinking of me...
I would love to hear from all of you, just a few minutes out of your day would mean a great deal. I just wished I knew all the emails to everyone I knew...
I hope all is well
My love and prayers go out to all your hearts
Thank You
-Sanjay Prasad
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