the fireworks came and went...

...and for the first time in years, i didn't go out to see them. i stayed inside this year and watched the boston pops fireworks spectacular on tv instead. besides, my neighbors do a great job of keeping their idea of "pops" going well into the 2am hour so it's not like there was a shortage of excitement. i found myself having an "old" moment when i walked outside to let them know around 1am that i'd had enough. oh well, i guess maybe that's what they meant when they said it happens to the best of us, right?
i've been keeping busy with my new career in ministry. the difference between working for the Lord and the big men in corporate offices is too grand to describe, yet it's not easy as many would be led to believe. i completely surrender my work to Him and look for feelings and signs as to what direction i'm to follow. in other words, quite different than "letting the corporate man hold you down."
i should be leaving in mid-august on two different assignments. the first is in fayetteville, arkansas and i'm excited about going to that part of the country. i imagine it will be significantly different than michigan, and i'm hoping this time serves as some good opportunities to appreciate different customs/traditions. i also hear they have some great home-cooked food and that's always a plus.
next, i head out to ridgecrest, north carolina for a conference. again, i've never been to the carolinas. i've always wanted to see raleigh, north carolina but we're not going to by close enough for that to happen this time around.
i will otherwise be spending a lot of time meeting with local supporters and church communities here in west michigan.
BJ is in a wedding today. it's his first but i'm going to be relying on pictures to take in the experience. it's my ex-b-i-l finally tying the knot but that makes for some very (presumably) awkward company so i'm sittting this one out today. well, i wasn't even invited anyway but i'm completely ok with that because i can't imagine me sticking around too long. i'm happy for the couple but haven't seen them for years, and i don't suppose i'm in any rush to anytime soon.

TWOFIVESIX and i have parted ways, kind of. i no longer manage them but still promote and handle all public relations. this transition took place on a good note, no hard feelings. it was their idea, not mine, however i can almost see how it's for the best. they had a show last night with a band out of canada called evans|blue. i thought it was a good set overall and the guys seemed to be having a really good time. it was a rather strange bill to be on and the set was cut short but all in all, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

i caught a few of the summer blockbuster films the past few weeks: transformers and live free or die hard (die hard 4). transformers was incredible, another michael bay masterpiece. die hard... not so much. bruce should have left well enough alone. the same cliches are used time and time again, gets old after awhile.
i still need to see the latest harry potter (and last i understand) offering but that might just wait for another rainy day. i'm sure it will live up to the hype since the ones before it did, however i'm just not feeling as anxious with this one. perhaps someone could chime in that's seen it (as if anyone reads this anymore) and tell me i need to run, not walk to check it out. anyone?

one of my favorite bands sleeping at last just re-vamped their website, which is well worth the free admission: www.sleepingatlast.com
also, i hear coldplay is re-entering the studio. i'm highly anticipating their next record to be chart-breaking. i seem to be putting a lot of pressure on the boys but they haven't failed me yet so i'm real excited for what's to come.

i'm ready for hockey season to start up again.

june slipped away...

several times in the month of june i told myself i would pop in here to leave a brief update... never happened. june has managed to virtually disappear. in the month that came and went, here's what happened:
* great show with TWOFIVESIX and domestic problems
* a few birthdays, including my own
* several summer cookouts
* the opening of our friend louie's bar
* my last day with my previous employer
* my acceptance of my new position/career

yes, it finally happened. with God's grace i am fortunate enough to be the next Area Director for West Michigan (Crown Financial Ministries).
i officially started this morning and this new challenge is exactly what i was hoping and praying would happen. Crown has a VERY extensive new hire process so it took quite some time before everything was official. obviously, to borrow an over-used cliche', it was well worth the wait.
i'm extremely excited about working with my new team and making a bigger impact for Him and the greater West Michigan community.

there hasn't been much else going on honestly. everything with Crown often took the majority of what free time i had, unless of course i was with BJ. BJ is sounding out new words daily. it's so much fun to experience this development and actually brings a completely different level of gratitude to my life. BJ has been staying with my fairly regularly and i'm quite fond of our fort-building, little people playing, weeble wobble experimenting, winnie the pooh watching, fun-filled adventures.

TWOFIVESIX is getting ready to head back into the studio. we're hoping to document this last wave of songs that were written, in order to officially move away from them and begin anew once again. you know, the feeling you get when you've come up with something but it's not on "record" so you pick it apart, looking for those minor changes that are usually unnecessary. in other words, you obsess over trivial matters. well, we'll be looking forward to having the archives to give us free reign, to move forward and leave well enough alone.

from an extra-curricular angle, i haven't done a great deal lately. obviously hockey season is over so all is quiet on that front. well, except the free agency market, where the wings picked up brian rafalski from the devils. i'm rather anxious to see brian's homecoming since he's originally a michigan native.
i haven't actually paid all that close of attention to new records that have come out in the past few months, surprisingly. a lot of bands are touring in support of albums they've already released so that might be why. i know mae is set to release their follow-up to the everglow called "singularity" sometime this month or next. the specific date escapes me at the moment. i also know the beastie boys will be releasing something very soon. that always proves to be well worth the time spent listening.

thanks to anyone that checks in periodically (likely more than i do) and keeps me in their thoughts and prayers. i'm encouraged by your faith and support.