I Can Hear Myself Getting Fatter...

Thank God I don't live in Illinois. The Gateway Grizzlies minor-league ball club has created the "world's best hamburger". Copy-cats coming to a county fair near you, I'm sure...


Read The Story Here

i-pod 8-Ball

Instead of the Friday Random ten, I'll do the musical eight-ball.

1. What is missing from my life? Shadows and Tall Trees - U2 (But not for long!)
2. Will I find love? Pipe Dreams - Travis (well, that's just not true...)
2. Will I find Love? I Alone - Live (nope, still not true...)
2. Will I find love? The Chemicals Between Us - Bush (that's better)
3. Will I become rich? Shepherd is the Lamb - Supertones (riches don't really matter)
4. Does someone have a crush on me? Something in the Way - Nirvana (that's not good)
5. What is my favorite sexual position? 40 - U2 (yeah, baby)
6. Am I good looking? - Dead Melodies - Beck (yup)
7) When am I most happy? Backyard Boogie - Mack 10 (I like the night life, I like to boogie)
8. What is my biggest regret? You Had to Be There - Stillwater (and I'll never tell)
9. How will I die? Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin (Is there a better way to go?)
10. Do I act my age? Flight of the Cosmic Hippo - Bela Fleck (I guess that's a no?)
11. What type of tattoo should I get? Luna - Smashing Pumpkins (a moon tattoo? Lets try again....)
11. What type of tatoo should I get? Sunrise - Norah Jones (still gay, oh well).
12. What is my spirit animal? Wolves - Garth Brooks
13. Do I like pain? One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash
14. Is there anyone else like me out there? California Dreamin' - The Mamas and the Papas.
15. Do I love to party? Daylight Fading - Counting Crows
16. Where should I move to? On Top - The Killers (Oregon IS on top of Cali!)
17. Am I secretly gay? Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins (That just about sums it up, doesn't it?)
18. Will I ever be president? The Longest Time - Billy Joel
19. What is fun for me? The Long Way Home - Norah Jones (heh)
20. Will I ever learn to fly? Bike - Pink Floyd (So I'll pull an E.T.?)
21. What is my super power? Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew (sweet!)

Springfield Rocks!

U2 Ramblings

First things first, some pretty big news. This is from Willie, the set designer for all of the U2 shows:

"Spent the afternoon in another meeting discussing the forthcoming TV and film shoots, before finally escaping from the hotel and managing a stroll to the local park."

I'm sorry, did he just say FILM shoot!?!?!?!?!?! Holy crap! That's awesome. It could be as simple as another Vertigo DVD, which I assumed we would get, but it could be more. Who knows?!? They put out two concert films with the Elevation Tour (live in Boston and U2-Go-Home at Slane Castle), So an international sibling to go along with the Chicago DVD would be awesome.

Second - Why they heck can't we get the best set lists of the tour in the US!?!?!?!? Over the first five or so dates on the tour, rarities have snuck into the set such as The First Time, Mothers of the Disappeared ( a Joshua Tree gem), All I want is You and Love Rescue Me. I'll be really bummed if they randomly play The Sweetest Thing or Staring at the Sun and I'm not there for it...

Third - I'm starting a petition to get the stadium shows back into the US. They have to do it. They just have to. They'd only have to hit major markets. Just do shows in L.A. (probably the Rose Bowl, but Anaheim would be cool), NY (at the Meadowlands), Chicago, Boston, Houston and, of course, Autzen Stadium in Eugene!!!!

So what have YOU been up to lately?

Me....I got a new job. After months of prayer and thought and consideration, I have been offered and have accepted a job at Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon. We will be leaving the friendly confines of Rivertucky in the last week of April and I begin my new job on May 1st.

It's amazing the way that the Lord works. He is so faithful to our family. When our financial situation took a turn for the worse a little while back, and we realized that we just can't afford to raise our family the way we want to in Southern California, every little piece of the puzzle just kinda fit together.

You know how you pray when you REALLY need the Lord to provide, and you pray to God, telling him that your life is in his hands, that you sacrifice all of your needs and wants up to him to provide for you? Well we were doing that for the longest time. Only I had a small problem. I absolutely didn't want our family to have to move. I wanted God to provide for us, so long it meant a way for us to keep our house. After some big, earth-shattering things came to light, and we realized that our financial situation wasn't going to be getting better by the means we had anticipated, I started to pray the same pray, laying everything in the hands of God, only this time I meant it. I truly trusted God to take care of us, no matter what and no matter WHERE that meant.

In a matter of three days after we had the "wake-up call", I found out about this opening for a Sports Information Director, sent in my resume, had a 45-minute phone interview and was asked to come to Oregon for a day of interviews as one of the finalists.

I went to Oregon one week ago today and was called on Wednesday to let me know that I was being offered the job. It's pretty insane to see how quickly the process has moved along. And despite all of the heartache that we have ahead of us with leaving our families behind and trying to sell our house and buy a house, we are COMPLETELY at peace about our decision. God has truly provided this life-altering opportunity for us.

Now it's time for us to find a house and we're heading up there this weekend to start to look. Are we stressed about all of this? Of course. But I am completely confident that the Lord has the perfect home for us up there. His grace has been shown so abundantly to me lately, that although I may have many short comings as a father, husband and man of God, the Lord still cares enough to help us provide for our family.

It'll be a new adventure. We're very excited to be able to raise our kids outside of Southern California!

Friday.Random.Ten

1. Crown of Love - The Arcade Fire from Funeral
2. The Way You Move -Outcast from Speakerboxxx
3. Trying to Get to Heavan - Bob Dylan from Time Out of Mind
4. I'm Looking Through You - The Wallflowers from the I Am Sam Soundtrack
5. Jesus Christ - U2 from the Rattle & Hum Sun Studio Sessions
6. Gerry is Strong - The Bruce Lee Band from Hey Brotha Can You Spare Some Ska
7. Acoustic #3 - The Goo Goo Dolls from Dizzy Up the Girl
8. Satellite - Anna Nalick from Wreck of the Day
9. Crossroads - Bone Thugs-n-Harmony from The Collection, Vol. 1
10. Joybirds - Doris Henson from Give Me All Your Money

For the Kiddies - The Best of Disney Ten

1. Belle (Beauty & The Beast, 1991)
2. Song of the South (Song of the South, 1946)
3. A Spoonful of Sugar (Mary Poppins)
4. Love is a Song
5. A Whole New World (Aladdin)
6. Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
7. When You Wish Upon a Star
8. Main Street Electrical Parade
9. Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (Lion King, 1994)
10. Oogie Boogie's Song (Nightmare Before Christmas)

The Return of the Friday Random Ten

1. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Bob Dylan from Bob Dylan Live, 1966: The Royal Albert Hall Concert.
2. Me and Paul - Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash from Storytellers
3. Little Budda - Toad the Wet Sprocket from Coil
4. The Heat is On - Glenn Fry from Billboard Top Hits 1985
5. Glass and the Ghost Children - Smashing Pumpkins from Storytellers 8/24/00
6. Night Prowler - AC/DC from Highway to Hell
7. Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones from Forty Licks
8. Fight for Your Right - The Beastie Boys from Licensed to Ill
9. Get Gone - Fiona Apple from When the Pawn...
10. Monkey - Counting Crows from Recovering the Satellites

And this weeks special: John, Paul, George and Ringo

1. Maxwell's Silver Hammer - Abbey Road
2. Day Tripper - 1
3. Come Together - Abbey Road
4. The End - Anthology 3
5. Rip it Up/Shake, Rattle and Roll/Blue Suede Shoes - Anthology 3
6. Lady Madonna - 1
7. The Ballad of John and Yoko - 1
8. Hey Jude - 1
9. And I Love Her - Anthology 1
10. Honey Pie - Anthology 3

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2331737

Brutal. I now have competition for Garret Anderson in the Angel-I-Hate-The-Most race.

U2-INTL

Vertigo//2006 started tonight in Mexico. No word yet as to whether he started the show with "One, Two, Three....FOURTEEN!" or not. My biggest question mark is the fact that they aren't regularly playing All Because of You anymore. What the heck? It's one of the biggest songs off of the album! At least Original of the Species is back in, even if it's at the cost of Miracle Drug, which I fully thought would be back for the international shows. View the Set List Here.

Oh, by the way...

I got my I-pod back. They caught the guy who stole it because he was caught stealing a laptop from someone else's office on Tuesday. Woohoo!!!!

Six-For-Six

Hey Roland - Stick that in your giant vortex....

After a night of explosively emotional performances of "Vertigo" and "One" with Mary J. Blige, U2 picked up awards in each category it was nominated in. To recap, the wins for "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" are as follows:
*Album of the Year
*Best Rock Album
*Song of the Year for "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
*Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
*Best Rock Song for "City Of Blinding Lights"

*And of course, our other man, Steve Lillywhite, was victorious in the Production, Non-Classical category for his work with U2 and pop singer Jason Mraz.

Friday Random Ten

1. Pictures of Lily - The Who from The Ultimate Collection
2. Higher - Creed from Human Clay
3. Gloria - U2 from October
4. The Kids are Alright - The Who from The Ultimate Collection
5. Hey, Johnny Park! - Foo Fighters from The Colour and the Shape
6. Jumper - Stephan Jenkins and Brian Vander Ark from the Star Lounge
7. I Feel Fine - The Beatles from 1
8. The Way Things Are - Fiona Apple from When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King/What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight/And He'll Win the Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring/There's No Body To Batter When Your Mind is Your Might/So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand/And Remember That Depth is the Greatest of Heights/And If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land/And If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right.
9. 300 Dollars (worth) - Mars Hill from The Scenic Route
10. Caribbean Wind - Bob Dylan from Biograph

The Random U2-10

1. All Because of You - Atomic Bomb
2. Are You Gunna Wait Forever - (B-Side) Vertigo Single
3. Another Time, Another Place - Live from Boston
4. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock - Under a Blood Red Sky
5. If You Wear that Velvet Dress - Pop
6. Pride - Unforgettable Fire
7. Walk On - All That you Can't Leave Behind
8. Twilight - Boy
9. New Year's Day - U2 - Live in Mexico City (from Hasta La Vista, Baby!)
10. Holy Joe (Guilty Mix) - (B-side) Discotheque Single

Where were you?

I can't believe it was 20 years ago today that the Challenger exploded. I was seven years old and in the 2nd Grade at College Park Elementary school. I remember our teacher taking us out to see the flag pole, which was at half-mast, she explained to us that there had been a big accident with the space shuttle and we were all going into the multi-purpose room to watch the news.

It's funny, because I don't remember too many specific things from that age, but I remember that day very well.

Friday Random Ten

1. Memphis Exorcism - Squirrel Nut Zippers (from Hot)
2. She Loves You - The Beatles (from 1)
3. Ramshackle - Beck (from Odelay!)
4. Slide - Asight Unseen (from Hollywood Proverbs)
5. Beautiful Day - U2 (from All That You Can't Leave Behind)
6. Rebel Without a Pause - Public Enemy (from Power to the People)
7. Worlds Apart - Jars of Clay (from Jars of Clay)
8. Things Have Changed - Bob Dylan (from The Essential Bob Dylan)
9. Wrong Number - The Cure (from Galore)
10. Fiddle About - The Who (from Tommy)

And my random U2 Ten. Apparently, it's "pop" day:

1. Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out of (acoustic) - from 7
2. Please - from Pop
3. Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Live from Point Depot
4. Mofo - from Pop
5. Wild Honey - from All That You Can't Leave Behind
6. Staring at the Sun (live from Rotterdam) - from the Please single
7. If God Will Send His Angels - from Pop
8. Shadows & Tall Trees (1st demo version) - from the digital boxed set
9. A Man and a Woman - from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
10. Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own - from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Sweet!

I just found out that Moe got us two tickets to see the Ellen Degeneres Show on February 1st! I got it cleared with work, Now here's hoping we can find people to watch the kids!

Four jobs you've had in your life: Guest Service Specialist (aka Targhetto cashier), Special Project Technician (aka Toilet Inspector), Usher - Angels Stadium, Sports Information Director/Coordinator
Four movies you could watch over and over: Billy Madison, School of Rock, American Beauty, Back to the Future
Four places you've lived: Irvine, La Mirada, Orange, Rivertucky
Four TV shows you love(d) to watch: Lost, 24, Close to Home, Numbers
Four places you've been on vacation: Idylwild, Hawaii, Colorado, New York
Four websites you visit daily: Espn.com, my work website, wikipedia, an are-they-dead-yet old people site that I can't link to, because other people in my death pool might steal my secret stash.
Four of your favorite foods: Chili, Enchiladas, Pizza, Cookies
Four places you'd rather be: At home in bed with my arms around my wife, laying on my living room floor with my kids climbing all over me, at a U2 Concert in Ireland, at Disneyland.

Friday Random Ten (A little late)

1. Holiday - Green Day - (from American Idiot)
2. Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins (from Rotten Apples: Greatest Hits)
3. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun - Pink Floyd (from Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd)
4. Cold As Ice - Matt Dusk (from Two Shots)
5. A Dark Time for the Light Side of Earth - Doris Henson (from Give Me All Your Money)
6. Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix (from Live at Woodstock)
7. The River - Garth Brooks (from The Hits)
8. Always - U2 (from 7)
9. The Times They Are a Changin' - Bob Dylan (from The Best of Bob Dylan)
10. I'll Fly Away - Kanye West (from The College Dropout)

I'm at 1,346 songs right now, including 220 U2 songs.

Akida Update

I just got this from the CE department chair at Biola, Richard Leyda.

I just talked to Jeff Sanchez and he had tried to get into see Akida, butthey are only letting family in (and a few pastors).Evidently, he is conscious but does not have feeling in parts of his bodyand they are afraid it was a stroke. Jeff said he was goingto try to get in Sunday/Monday and would let us know. I told him to tellAkida that we were all praying for him.

Go Dutch!

I talked to former Biola Baseball player Ben Orr today at a retirement party for the old Biola SID Ken Carlson and apparently, Jon Rouwenhorst has made the 40-man roster with the Angels. This means he'll be on the roster for major league spring training and has an outside shot at making the big league club. Most likely he'll be back at Triple-A Salt Lake, but he's getting closer. One more good year in the minors and he should be a September call-up this season!

Prayer Request

I don't really know any details yet, but I just got an email from an old friend, Emily Stoltz, from Biola. Apparently another friend of ours, Akida Morgan, is having serious health issues. We were all Christian Education major's together and we were all pretty close with a lot of classes together. Chris Stanley, Cara Reed, Emily, Akida and I all graduated together. Here is the note I got from Emily:

Hey Nick,
I don't know if you have already heard about Akida, but I just got an e-mail from Denise yesterday saying that a roommate or someone found him unconscious on Christmas morning and I guess he had a brain aneurysm. I guess his family isn't letting anyone see him so there are a lot of rumors going around about what his condition really is. Denise said he WAS in a coma for several days, but Kristy Newman called me about 20 minutes after I had gotten the e-mail from Dee saying that he wasn't able to breath on his own or eat or anything and that "his legs were better" but they have no idea what the problem was with his legs to begin with. She seemed to think he was still in a coma in Intensive Care and probably wasn't going to make it. I have no idea what to believe, especially being all the way out here, but I just wanted you to know and be praying for him. I'm going to e-mail Val and see if maybe she knows anything so we can get a prayer chain started or something.
I'll let you know what I hear.

UPDATE: From Emily -
I just got an e-mail from Val actually and she said that he is on a ventilator, kidney dialysis and he took a turn for the worse this weekend, but they still don't know much information either. She said that Dr Leyda is trying to get information through Whittier Christian since Kida was coaching there. She said he was planning on talking to them again today and she would let me know what she finds out.