It's finally happened.

That's right, boys and girls. Jennifer Knapp has finally broken her long silence. She is in the process of writing and recording a new record and I couldn't be more excited. The record will be out in the first quarter of 2010. It'll be interesting to see how the long absence has changed her. She's got some new songs up on her Myspace page as well as a a letter to her fans on her homepage.

So I was a little late on the news. The letter went up on her website in September. Oh, well. She played an acoustic show in New York on October 28th. She's got a couple of videos on YouTube from that show. You can see them here. There's one old song and one new one.

I was sure I'd posted about Jennifer Knapp here before but I can't find it now. The long and short of it is that she released her third album in 2001 and, after the tour, announce she was taking a break. Then she disappeared. The studio continued to release demos and live albums to get all the money they could from her music. It should be noted here that she never sought that money and resisted fame in many ways. I can't wait to hear about what she's been up to while on hiatus.

That's all for now. I just wanted to share.

The Stranger

Last night I went out to eat with some friends and afterward a few of us went around town doing many silly things that all seemed like good ideas at the time. We went to Barnes and Noble where I read Where The Wild Things Are to them while they sat on the floor (except Bekah who was wearing a skirt). We ate ice cream. We searched Walmart until we found the last pack of Crazy Straws they had and bought them along with 'snazzy drinks' as Jordan called them (I had pomegranate lemonade). We took our new purchases to LSU and drank them while sitting on the steps of the bell tower.

Just before midnight a guy on a bike rode by singing Queen. We began talking. He sang an italian opera song for us. Jordan demonstrated a workout routine for us. We talked for over two hours to this stranger. We talked about many things. What kind of super power would you want to have? If we lived in a world in which you could choose your own skin color, what color would your skin be? What are your views on politics? What are your views on the current state of the church?

It's interesting how you can end up exactly where you should be at just the right moment. None of us were called there for any reason. We weren't called at all. Still, four friends spoke with one stranger for hours as if he were a friend. An odd meeting that came out of no where. We had small and important conversations and then went on our way. It was a good night.

I have decided (part 2)

I spoke in this post about the importance of honesty in relationships. In that post I shared four poems that I had written that I'd struggled with making public. I ultimately decided that to stay in honest relationship with those I love I needed to share them.

Well, I've got some news. Those four poems, as well as 29 others are now available in a book of poetry that I have compiled, laid out, designed, and self-published on lulu.com. There's a hardback version:


as well as a paperback version:


Both are available here.

The title of the book is please and other words of weakness and since I've found no better way to describe the purpose of making this book available to all, here is the introduction:

Freedom Doesn’t Lurk in Shadows:
An Introduction

This book is not for you. It isn’t for those closest to me. It isn’t even for myself. This book is an offering to the altar of honest relationship. Being in real relationships with people requires full disclosure and trumps any notion of “personal stuff.”

What’s coming in these next several pages is a series of snapshots of my life at various stages. I’ve titled this collection please and other words of weakness because almost all of these poems were written at what I’ve come to call Moments of Weakness. Everyone has weak moments and everyone handles them differently. The way I’ve come to handle them is to write them down.

If these poems were to be all that survive of my life, then anyone who reads them would think they come from a weak and depressed mind. In fact, they do, but the weakness and depression doesn’t last too long. It may come after the death of an uncle or during a bout with unrequited love or in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. After I write those moments down, I can usually get past them. Sometimes it takes a little longer.

These weak moments are hard to share with people, especially with those closest to me. In many instances they reveal the darkest parts of my heart. Putting this collection down in print is like taking my heart out of my chest and dissecting it for all to see. I have learned this one thing, however: that relationships have to mean something or they aren’t worth anything. To have those real, raw relationships it becomes necessary to reach into uncomfortable places. You have to be completely honest no matter where that honesty leads. It’s a rare thing to have a friend of that sort, but it’s important to strive for it.

I have written these poems over the course of many years. Some of the earliest ones come from my angsty teenage years, and they range all the way up to my last semester earning a degree in graphic design. This is who I am at my best, and often my worst. These poems reveal all my doubt, my insecurity, my most intense depression, and everything one normally keeps to oneself. This is as honest as I can be.

So, go buy it and I think this coupon code is still good: BOBBYJHILLJRLZ14.

New Online Portfolio

I've added this link to the sidebar:

It goes to my brand spankin' new online portfolio.

That is all. Thank you.

Are you ready boys and girls? It's time.

Okay, this is a post that has been sitting around for a while. I was going to rank things from my big trip. I got this far:

RANKINGS:

Favorite stop: Chattanooga, TN

Best Hotel Overall: Comfort Inn in Bloomington, MN

Best Shower: Comfort Inn in Bloomington, MN

Best Shower Head: Microtel in Kansas City, MO

Best Meal: Mojo Burrito in Chattanooga, TN

So, other than that, I'm looking for a job. I put in an application at Bethany World Prayer Center and dropped off a resume at Stun Design and Louisiana Lottery. So we'll see what happens. If anyone hears about a graphic design job please send it my way. I'd much prefer to do print design than web design.

Okay, now the real reason I'm posting now. A couple months ago a book came out entitled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies:


I wanted to read but never got around to it. Now there is another book coming out called Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters:


I wonder if this classic literature remix thing is gonna really catch on or not. . .

Days 5 and 6: Chicago and Milwaukee

I visited Chicago last saturday. I spent most of the day wandering around half-lost. It was great (really). I drove into town around 11:30 and found a parking lot to park in. Then I started walking (taking my GPS with me) towards the Art Institute of Chicago. It should be noted here that it was freezing to me having come from Louisiana. It was only like 58, but still, I didn't even think to pack a jacket or long-sleeve anything so I was keeping my eyes peeled for a place to buy a jacket. Anyway. I went to the museum in the Art Institute and it was really nice. A lot of good art. I have pictures up on Facebook if you haven't already seen them.

After leaving the museum I went to Millennium Park which is right across the street from the Art Institute. In fact, there's a foot bridge from the second level of the museum to the park, but I couldn't find it while in the museum so I didn't walk across it. I did walk under it, though. Anyway, in Millennium Park there are some large great sculptures. I don't know if they change them out a lot or ever but I know this one has been there since 2006. It was created by Anish Kapoor and is titled Cloud Gate:


This is a concept drawing that is on display near the piece:





After wandering around Millennium Park a bit I wandered upon a Gospel Music and Art Festival. They were selling things in booths but what I went into the tent for was the open mic spectacular they were having on a stage in the middle. It was excellent. It was all I could do to not get up there and sing His Eye is on the Sparrow. At one point, however, this 5 or 6 year old white kid got up there and started singing. Now, understand me when I say he was white. I mean he was 100% white. And the audience was . . . um. . . not. But the host guy was all like "Show some love, show some love." And they did.

At this point I decided to not go to the Museum of Modern Art that I was going to go to. My reason was that I didn't want to walk that far but I probably did walk as much and more than I would have. No, instead, I decided to find a theater and see Land of the Lost. Before I did that, though, I happened upon another art festival where artists were selling their own work. I got to talk to a couple of them about their work and it was all very interesting. So, go on from there, still don't have a jacket. I stop in to a Starbucks and eat some luch and have some NASTY "sweet" tea. I find a mall. Not really a mall, more like a collection of expensive stores all centered around Nordstrom. I find nothing I can afford but now it's raining and I stay in out of the rain looking at clothes I cannot afford. When it lets up a little I wander out and I'm talking to Jacob on the phone and I'm looking for a store still. Then I look across the street and say, "Oh, look, a Gap." So I went to the Gap and found three sweaters and buy them.

I'm still looking for a theater. I've got my GPS with me, but it isn't as good with walking. Or maybe there was interference in the city. I walk countless blocks and get pretty far from the Gap, yet I somehow end up at the same intersection on the opposite corner from the Gap and the theater I was looking for is a block away. I go see Land of the Lost. I found it to be kinda funny but not really worth it. If you have to watch it then watch it when it comes on tv and you can't find the remote. It won't disappoint you but you shouldn't go out of your way to see it.

Then I went back to my car and drove to the hotel. Chicago is big. Here are some obligatory big building shots. This first one is looking towards Millennium Park and you can see the big face on the fountain. That's a video screen and it changes; blinks and stuff:



I went from Chicago to Milwaukee. Milwaukee is nice I guess. I ate at a greek place there. Greek food is different up north. They have gyros but not chicken shawarma. Instead they have chicken souvlaki which is basically chicken kabobs because it's cooked on a stick like that. It was good but my favorite part of my meal at Apollo Cafe was that they give you a bottle of grecian sauce (which they call cucumber sauce).

What I went to Milwaukee for was to go to the Milwaukee Museum of Art. Again I've posted pictures on Facebook from the museum of the artwork if you want to see it. What I want to share here is that the museum drinks Red Bull:

. . . because it gives you wiings . . .


I'd also like to share that I ran into one of my old teachers at the museum. I had this summer oil painting class with him. Apparently he grew up in Milwaukee and was back home to take care of some family stuff. After a minute or two he remembered me and I told him that I loved his class but I hated oil painting, which is true. I thought it was neat to run into someone like that in a completely different place.

I was also very thoroughly impressed and satisfied with the museum. If you haven't seen the pictures on Facebook that I took of the things there then I suggest you look at them because this museum has a very fine collection of great work both old and new.

After Milwaukee I went to Bloomington Minnesota where I stayed for 4 nights. The Mall of America is huge but I've already really covered that part of my journey. I didn't really do much except go to the mall. I did go spend a day in Minneapolis which is only about 20 minutes north of Bloomington. I went to some museums there and I will cover that in another post.

Right now I want to say that I have never been a follower of sports. This is evidenced by the fact that I scheduled an overnight stay in Omaha on the first day of the College World Series without any knowledge of it being the first day of the College World Series in Omaha. My plan was to go the the Henry-Doorly Zoo. Well, friday when I got there it was rainy and the zoo was closing at 5 anyway. Next morning I get up to go (a few minutes later than I'd planned) and try to go and sit in traffic only to find the zoo's parking lot is full of baseball fans. The stadium is right next to the zoo. I needed gas so I found a gas station. After filling up I decided to come on to Kansas City instead of finding a place to park and walking.

I'm in Kansas City now. I went to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art earlier today and I've posted those pictures on Facebook already as well as some from Minneapolis and Bloomington. I will post more about these and other things later. I'll be home on monday.

UPDATE: You can now go to my Facebook page without a Facebook sign in by going to facebook.com/boogerface57. Go there to see more pictures from my trip under my albums.

Back in Time: Day 2, Ruby Falls and Rock City

When I was in Chattanooga I went to Ruby Falls and Rock city. I have pictures up on Facebook but if you haven't already seen them I'll put some of the highlights here.

These are from Ruby Falls in no particular order. We went down into Lookout Mountain in an elevator to the caverns that lead to Ruby Falls. They had different types of lighting to display certain rock formations:



This is called the Chandelier:



This is a very natural formation known as the Outlet:



When we reached the large chamber where the actual waterfall is the only thing that was lit was the entryway we'd come through. The waterfall was at the opposite end in complete darkness. There were speakers in the chamber which were playing very dramatic music and then the waterfall was revealed:


The waterfall is lit from beneath:


The opening where the water comes out is only about two to three feet wide:


And proof that I was there:


This is from the top of Lookout Mountain where you can supposedly see seven states. I don't know. . .


The rest of these are from Rock City (. . . we built this city . . .) which is basically a large collection of huge boulders. And I mean HUGE. Here are two:


This is a magical music-emitting rock. It should be noted here that the theme of Rock City is magic fairyland and gnomes and stuff like that. There is a Fairyland caverns portion of the park that has large dioramas of Hansel and Gretel and Jack and the beanstalk and stuff like that. In fact, after I snapped this picture a unicorn galloped by:




Fat Man Squeeze is the best name for anything ever:



Here's me going through Fat Man Squeeze:



Lover's Leap:


I also went to the Tennessee aquarium while in Chattanooga. It's really nice But it's also still an aquarium so if you want to see a more complete collection of pictures from there then check on Facebook as they are all posted there. But to make mention of a few things. . .

First is that the setup of the aquarium is interesting because it's split into two buildings, one for ocean and one for river. On top of that the landscaping (Is it landscaping if it's all concrete? Whatever.) is very interesting. You can see the wave form foot bridges in this picture with the aquarium buildings behind them:


On the other side of the foot bridges is this fountain:



which starts this river that runs between the two aquarium buildings, interrupting the cityscape in various ways as it goes:


I also took this picture of jellyfish which I love a lot. I usually cant get good jellyfish pictures:


Near the jellyfish in the aquarium were displays of jellyfish art by different artists. Some of my favorites: