Nate's Darkroom

Cooking, Coffee, and Rare Belgian Ales

2008-12-26T13:55:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I got some awesome gadgets for cooking and personal entertainment. My dad stocks me up on Lump Charcoal every year so I never run out. I think I might be the only person excited about getting coal for christmas. I am smoking a rack of ribs today with a home-made dry rub and barbeque sauce that I made in my Magic Bullet that I got from Rachel's parents. and I can't be more excited about my new coffee roaster! my house has smelled like roasted coffee for the last two days and my wife is in heaven. I also got a really cool Fire pit from my parents. They got it from our wedding registry and I was completely suprised. I've been wanting one for years and will look forward to having little camp fires in the backyard. Of course I will probably find a cooking possibility with it but mostly just to burn stuff. My best friend Kevin has gone and done something that I never expected in a million years. We Traded with a friend of ours in Kansas for a once in a lifetime chance to get our hands on the "Best Ale in the world" (BA.com). and possibly the rarest. Belgian Monks have used the renowned yeast strains for hundreds of years and obviously have no interest in money. Only 26 bottles are given to any one business or buyer per year. The rarity has grown simply because they have made the same amount and had the same distribution policy for over half a century! This ale is simply a treasure to even own. I hope everyone has had a wonderful christmas! Have a happy new year and BE SAFE!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

Everybody needs to hear this song, it's a man doing a Porky Pig impression while singing "Blue Christmas". Enjoy!

Settling In

2008-12-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

I know I know, it's been almost two months now since my last blog. But I think if you look back on the past two months I've been very busy. Getting Married, Moving into a new house, and trying to juggle work and life into the mix. So we've finally got ourselves moved in and are starting to settle. Rachel and I started to decorate for christmas last night and got to do our first bit of christmas shopping this weekend. We both got each others presents and since she needed hers ( a Nikon S550)before christmas, she let me open mine. She got me what I've been asking for all year, an MP3 player. Oh, before I forget, We just got our Wedding photo Cd so I will be posting some of the best ones. And yes Mom, we'll bring it over so you can see all of them. We are still waiting on the High Def Video that they took, But in time we'll get to see it. I hope averyone had a happy thanksgiving!

Total Absurdity

2008-10-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

Calling all fans of Don Hertzfeldt. these cartoons are quite possibly the most absurd animations on this planet, but they are so funny! Enjoy

No more Playlist

2008-10-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Alright, No more Playlist, I don't know if you are sick of hearing it, but I am. That is all.

New Development

2008-09-26T12:43:00.001-07:00

So lately I haven't been blogging about the Garden. That's because it hasn't done anything different in a while. just the same old "growing what it's supposed to". But today I realized that the Greenpappers that I've been growing are changing colors. I KNOW, IT'S TURNING RED! I'm so excited apparently all you have to do is wait until it's matured then just leave it on the plant longer and longer, then it changes. I guess that's why the red and yellow Peppers are really expensive. I think for the rest of the seaon I'll leave them on the plant until they are red. Just thought I'd let you know! Oh, and also I'll have some more tomatoes soon as well, they have bloomed again and are Growing QUICK!

"Where the Light is"

2008-09-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been a couple of weeks since my last post. But I discovered a definite blog-worthy topic that I just had to find time to post about. John Mayer released a Live in Los Angeles DVD called "Where the Light is". I'm pretty sure all of my readers are John Mayer fans, I mean you have to be crazy to not like him. This DVD is special because I feel that lately he's been portrayed as a teeny-bopper pop star. John Mayer is a Genius songwriter and guitar player who surrounds himself with talented people and creates fantastic music. I've attached a couple of videos from this live DVD, the first is a cover of the wonderful song "Free Fallin" by Tom Petty, John seems to make this song his own. The second is a song off his Album "Continuum", the song is titled "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" I hope you enjoy these videos.

The Birthday Girls

2008-09-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Last tuesday, two of my favorite people in the world shared a birthday. Rachel and Jenn have been doing joint birthday parties for a few years now. This one was super cool. "the Gang" hasn't been together in a while, breakups and drama have kept our group in a rustle for a while. But now that the punches have been thrown (metaphoric) and talks have given way to understanding we have come together again. Haruno was the destination this year, well it's usually the destination about once a month. The other Birthday Girl is my beautiful Neice Joslyn (see I spelled her name right rachel). once I get some pictures of her party today I'll post a few. Below is a picture of the Gang, aren't we sexy. From Left: first guy, Kimmie's new boyfriend (can't remember his name), Kimmie, Sarai, Justin, Yours truly, Rachel, Kevin, Andrea, Jenn, and Chris

Bicycle woes

2008-09-01T08:39:00.001-07:00

So Getting a 20 year old Schwinn back in working order is proving harder than once anticipated. it's 10:30 this morning and I've already made one trip to Wal-Mart for a gear cord, and three trips to ACE Hardware for little bolts and lubricant and such. If my name wasn't Osborn I would have given up a long time ago. I getting ready to make a fourth trip to ACE for a bolt to hold the cord in place so it will change gears. You know, a reasonable man would accept that he has lost and the bike from ancient times has won, but I am not that man. I'm getting sick of riding this bike only in 4th Gear. whew, glad I got some frustration out. I'm gonna get back to the rat killing. HAve a wonderful Labor Day!

Dora-Lynn the Big Girl

2008-08-23T12:47:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday Dora turned 1 year old. This past year has been a rollercoaster of learning possibilities for her (and us). She has become a very well-behaved little girl and we love her very much. Here's to the next year of playful Dora!

Why life isn't easy

2008-08-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Unless your head has been under a rock for the past few years. You might realize that a lot of people are unhappy. Unhappy with their lives, Jobs, Spouses, etc. The typical response to not-liking something is to just get a new one. I've been talking with a lot of people lately about everyday stresses and life in general. "Why can't anything ever be easy" I said to my friend (referring to work). He said "if things were easy, we wouldn't appreciate what we have". Thank you Kevin, I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. We as Americans are so spoiled with everyday luxuries that we lose sight of what makes us really happy as human beings. over the past couple of months, Rachel and I have been so-called "scraping by" with saving money and investing in our wedding. Many years ago Rachel and I scraped by on a day to day basis. Even with our monthly bills, groceries, gas, we managed to get by with little to nothing left in our pockets at the end of the bill paying period. But in retrospect Those were the years that we grew closer, and really began to discover who we were as a couple. I have to say over the past few years Rachel and I have been doing just fine in the financial area. Having extra money to spend on movies, Entertainment, Fine dining has well, spoiled us. I have been examining our day to day lives in the past months of saving and planning, and no matter how stressful things may be, we still have each other, and the dogs of course. Oh what I wouldn't give to be a dog sometimes. Napping, eating, playing, napping, quite a utopian lifestyle huh? Would it give us any satisfaction at all? Just lying around being lazy and self indulgent all the time?

Marley is 4!

2008-08-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARLEY! This wonderfull boy of ours is four years old, it seems like yesterday when he was just a little pup. Of course when asked what he wanted for his birthday he asked for a treat and a nap. What more would a dog like him ask for?

Movie Trailer

2008-08-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

Rachel and I are so excited for the newest Motion Picture installment of the Harry Potter Series. "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" is the sixth of seven books about the young wizard who is destined to fight he who must not be named. This Trailer depicts Albus Dumbeldore speaking to the Child Tom Riddle about being "different". for those who aren't potter-savvy, Lord Voldermort (he who must not be named) is an anogram for Tom Riddle. spooky trailer

Crosby Stills Nash and... Colbert?

2008-08-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

So my last blog had a bit about Crosby Stills and Nash. That very evening I was watching the Colbert Report and CSN were his musical guests. This is a very special moment in Television history, Because it isn't everyday that a the corpse (seriously he is sooo almost dead) named David Crosby is sober enough to play. This is one of the greatest videos I've ever seen. the first video is an interview with the band, the second is "teach your children" featuring Stephen Colbert. Enjoy!

26... huh?

2008-07-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, so I hit 20 and in a flash I'm more than half way to 30. I always thought that I was mid-life-crisis-prone, but I'm realizing that might not be true. In four years I'll be half way to Dentures, Diapers(again), and AARP. On a lighter note, this last weekend was fun. Rachel's Aunt and Uncle were in town, they are always fun to hang out with. Tammie burned me a compilation of an old Crosby Stills and Nash album "Daylight Again". This album was released only a few months before I was born. I can't take this album out of my CD player.

Pet Peeves

2008-07-25T13:58:00.001-07:00

Really!?! another good song used by a no-talent hack and placed on the radio to make some big record executive millions? this is why this Blog is called pet peeves. This is one of mine. but this week a regular pet peeve has been blown way out of the water by a more horrible event. if you listen to the classic rock radio stations at all you probably know the old song "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon. lately the no-talent Kid Rock released a song in the tune of this wonderful song. When I say he used it "in the tune" I mean that he only used the music. He decided to place a completely ridiculous "country-rap"(in his "i'm incredibly proud to be white trash" sort of way) lyric over it and call it a hit single. this is only part of this crazy pet peeve. I usually listen to US 97 at work because they play some of the best classic rock in the world. This morning I heard the first beat to "werewolves of London" but insted of hearing the classic howl of the werewolf I heard Kid Rock rapping in my ear. ON CLASSIC ROCK RADIO!?! I am going to vent a little frustration. This song is not classic rock, it's only a few weeks old. I think we look at too many things and say "well, it's close enough" can I get an AMEN?

finally, RED tomatoes

2008-07-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

I know that some of you fellow Gardeners are having trouble with tomatoes not ripening. I don't want to brag, but LOOK AT THESE! I did a little bit of reading and discovered that too much water creates a depletion of Calcium in the soil which directly leads to vine rot and non-ripening tomatoes. I think I'll celebrate this first tomato harvest and make some Picco De Gallo. I've been picking Cherry tomatoes for about a month so if anybody wants some, just let me know. I'm picking about a pound a day.

TGIF (Tournament Golf is Fun)

2008-07-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

How many of you are busier than you've ever been? yeah, seems like everyone is. but it's little things like fridays and cute little puppies that remind us that life is good. don't know where the puppies come is really, but anywho. So this weekend the agenda is to do wedding stuff ALL FREAKIN WEEKEND! with a little time set aside cuz I'm going to see my boss play in a Golf Tournament. I've got two tickets, anyone want to go?.....anyone... oh, come on Golf isn't that bad! So this week Rachel and I have set a few things in stone about the wedding. The date is October 24th, and it will be at The Blauvelt's House (because it's to darn pretty in the fall). I've come to realize that I'll have to rent a huge tent and a bunch of other things like chairs and decorations. I am fortunate enough that I won't have to be paying as much as I was for the other Venue. So much to do, only three months to do it in. Maybe I should have hired a professional.

a few new songs

2008-07-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

Some new songs. good ones to roll the windows down and crank up. Playlist is at the bottom of the page. Enjoy

Family Guy

2008-07-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

Ok so if you know me, you know that Family Guy is my absolutely favorite show. these are some of the best moments in the show. Absolutely absurd... and wonderful.

Engagement Announcement

2008-07-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Congrats to our good friends Chris and Jenn on their Engagement. I thought this was a funny picture of them (yes, chris is in pigtails).

Givin it up

2008-07-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Calling all Robots, Freaks, Rockers, and Jazzy joes. Ask and you shall recieve. I was going to wait for another day, but I found myself with a sleepy home-crew so I decided to do it now. Givin it up for the other Mixtapers out there. if you scroll down to the bottom of the page I posted another Mixtape and will try to keep it up to date with what I've been listening to lately. I have to say, I took a look at what has been in the cd player and Turntable in the past week and I am baffled at the variety. There just might be something for everyone in here. I still have quite a sweet tooth so I started the list with Daft Punk (that's for the robots:). and followed with some Zappa(this is obviously for the freaks, I tried to find a fairly clean song for the list, it was hard). Then the list goes on. I like to finish with Fionna apple, and some other songs that I haven't posted before. I hope you enjoy. Crank it up!!!

Jammin' not Explodin'

2008-07-04T20:28:00.000-07:00

So tonight wasn't as explosive as some other independence days. Rachel got stuck with the graveyard shift and nobody we know is having a get-together. I've decided to arrange my record collection. I've selected a few to listen to while arranging and found one that I've been thinking about a lot lately but haven't had much of a chance to break it out. As some may know I am a huge Fiona Apple fan. I found "When the Pawn" and couldn't believe how long it's been since I've given this a good listen. I was reading a Blog by a friend (Daine) the other day about Matt Chamberlain and instantly wanted to listen to some Fiona (Chamberlain is one of Fiona's Drummers). This video, well isn't really a video but just an audio track with a picture(we all know how you tube is) I couldn't find the actual video that would let me Embed the HTML. any who, I wanted you all to know what I've been Jammin to. OH, and ther is another one by her just had to throw it in. Beatles fans will like the second one

Blowin stuff up

2008-07-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

I love this holiday, it's a good excuse to eat good ol american food and do what americans do best, have fun while blowing stuff up. How many countries have a holiday nearly as cool as our independence day. Be safe and if you end up getting hurt don't go to Cox because my sister will kill me for suggesting cox. Go to St John's. I think this year I'm going exclusively with morter shells. last year I spent a lot on fountains and smaller stuff and didn't get any big boom stuff. Be safe this weekend and have fun.

Puppy pics

2008-06-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been kicking around the idea of putting three pictures of each dog in the house. Since they are kinda like our kids, we wanted to have some pictures of them like they are our kids. Everybody probably knows that I've got lots and lots of pictures of the dogs and I've narrowed the search down to a couple of pics that I think would look good. let me know what you all think.
Marley:

Bella-Rose:

Dora:

Second Green Bean harvest

2008-06-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

Today I harvested this weeks green beans. Now, unlike last year, I used a organic Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer and the results have been fantastic. This years beans are averaging 6 inches long and are a very healthy thickness. Last year I was lucky to get a couple over five inches. Since we have had so much rain this year, I am wondering if the fertilizer has little or nothing to do with the upgrade in size. MY eggplant has decided to bloom this weekend as well, I was informed that the rise in temperature and excessive moisture has been the culprit for such a fast and sucessful blooming (they usually don't bloom until mid to late july). I guess this has become more of a gardening blog huh? well in the winter I'll find something else to talk about. heck maybe I'll take the camera out from it's dusty case and use it. I want to give a shout out to my friend Corey who has been reading and has also been using some recipes from foodie rachel as well (seriously, if you haven't you need to). You Rock Corey Bott! that kinda rhymes.

HEROES SEASON 3

2008-06-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, to all those Heroes Fans out there, The new season begins this fall. Since the previous "sneak peeks" have been fairly accurate, I think it's fair to assume that the title "Villains" will result in a very Evil new season. I CAN'T WAIT! Oh, and a big plus, the premiere is THREE HOURS LONG! uh, I'm thinking "Heroes Premiere Party" what do you think?

Breakfast Creations

2008-06-15T08:40:00.001-07:00

So now that some Veggies are ready for harvesting, I couldn't wait to cook some up. I've never made breakfast with green beans and tomatoes, but I think it worked exceptionally well. I sauteed the beans and onions in EVOO until soft, then put half of a chopped tomato until soft with a small clove of chopped Garlic, then put it on three eggs scrambled. a really light and healthy breakfast. I love reaping the rewards of garden growing.

Another new Toy, I know, I know

2008-06-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

so I couldn't help it, I got to see some of these at Rachel's Aunt's house. they are really cool, but kind of overboard. But they were ten bucks on special so it's not really that big of a splurge. I'll never have to actually hand crank my pepper or salt again...cool.

New Toys

2008-06-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

So, I finally got my economic stimulus. And Being a good American, I actually spent it on stuff instead of saving it (I know that's so un-like me). I figured that's what it's for right? So I got some Rachael Ray signature Cookware, and a Pizza stone.
I've always wanted a pizza stone and I found a good one for twenty bucks at Bed Bath and Beyond. I have to wait for the cookware to be delivered, don't you hate that "I've already paid for it, I can't wait till it's here period". anywho, What are you spending yours on?

Back to life, Back to Reality

2008-06-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, What a vacation. Just what I needed, Dry, hot air, relaxing swimming pool, plenty of live entertainment, and more slot machines than you can shake a stick at. Now that we are back to real life, and have got the house back in order I'm ready to start moving forward. the past two months have been incredibly stressful, which I hope is over. Vegas was an incredibly fun time, and do we have stories. Which mostly involve a mis-navigating GPS, and incredibly expensive over-charges on one certain hotel's credit card machine. sometimes even vacations can be stressful. I caught this picture of the Luxor while walking back to our hotel (Mandalay Bay) at about four AM. more pics will be on the way.

VACA!

2008-05-31T03:46:00.000-07:00

So long Springfield! boy will I be happy to put you in my rear-view mirror for a while. until I return... I leave you with a song by Paul simon. Sung by Eva Cassidy, it speaks of doing what is necessary even when the time isn't right. When we are down trodden is when we must keep moving forward.

Composting Made Easy

2008-05-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

For the past few years, I have been composting in my backyard (the large pile behind the garden). Even when I didn't have a garden, I still used this space to dump organic waste. What a lot of people don't know about composting is that it is incredibly easy, and cheap. I know a lot of people who use it simply to decompose waste without throwing it in the trash. Going green has never been so accepted than it is now, and it is important to get started right away. With a small financial investment and a bit of work, everybody can start composting. I know what you are saying (Daine) "There is too much clay in my soil", or "my soil is too sandy" Compost fixes almost every problem with soil you can imagine. It helps with water retention with sandy soils, and water drainage with clay soil. It stabilizes the acidity and alkalines that may be in your soil from poisonous weeds and neglect, and raises the amount of nutrients that your plants need to flourish. Go here to see what is acceptable to put into your new compost pile. Good luck and happy gardening!

2008-05-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

So after this mornings downpour, I managed to find a little bit of sunlight to snap a picture of an interesting vine that is growing on my fence bordering my neighbor's house. I don't know what this is called but it's a very elegant flower on a very pesky vine. So how is everybody's Memorial Day weekend going? any big plans?

Strawberries

2008-05-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the first strawberry of the year. I hope it turns red soon so I can eat it!

2008-05-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

Man, What a week. Thank God for Memorial Day weekend and all of the hype of going to a point of interest only to be disgruntled by long lines and a lack of elbow room. Rachel's Family has made Plans to go to Silver Dollar City on Monday. The Bluegrass and BBQ festival is going on, so I can count on good food and lots of live music and I do need a tan, and some exercise. Last night We helped Courtnie and Philip decorate their daughter's room before she is born. They decided to use colors that I would have never guessed would go together, but it looks really good. I am also trying to get some old pictures scanned for a wedding slidewhow that I am putting together. I am finding some really old and funny pictures of both of us

Above is a picture of me playing with my dad's stereo. Kind of a hint that one day I would be an audio buff huh? Man, I even remember those headphones and how huge they were.

Across the Universe

2008-05-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to see a great movie last night. "Accross The Universe" took my breath away. If you haven't seen it, you definitely should especially if you are a Beatles fan. It was like breathing life into some of the best beatles songs. I've been on a movie kick lately because the only thing else to watch is American Idol and crappy reality shows. if you ask me Flavor Flav could never show his face again and I wouldn't complain, along with Bret Michaels. I find myself counting down the days until "The Dark Knight" comes out. No, it's not because Heath ledger died (which is very sad), I just love the new batman series. Nothing against Tim Burton or anything, I just didn't care for his batman movies. As if trying to not think about vacation is hard enough, I've been seeing shows on the travel channel about "Do's, and Don'ts in Las Vegas", and "Vegas Must-sees". I mean I have to watch it because it gives me a good idea of things to do, but they don't have to make the next week and a half harder. GEEZ! My Boss asked me to complete an order on the week I was going to be gone (having forgot that I would be out of town). I was all like "Negative Ghost-rider pattern is full" (name that movie and I'll give you a pat on the back, cuz it's really not that hard, I mean I wouldn't give you a BIG prize for getting a really easy reference) Man should I stop talking or what? Goodnight, I'm gonna go chill with my Marley Dog.

My New Playlist

2008-05-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have added (as you have probably figured out) a playlist to my blog. I put some good old tunes and some good newer tunes on there for your enjoyment. Some of my favorite artists and songwriters are on it. If people find it annoying PLEASE let me know, I will gladly remove it if it's a pain in the butt.

Jammin the old Tunes

2008-05-16T10:59:00.001-07:00

Ok, imagine this. Your in your car and you hear a booming bass beat approaching from the rear. I know, you're thinking "God, some thug blaring that rap crap" but when it passes you it's a white guy in a grand am blaring Simon and Garfunkel. Yeah, that's me. I was headed to a customer appreciation BBQ today hosted by our trucking company, and I had broken out the "Old Friends Live" CDs. I was Jamming, like hard core Jammin and singing to S&G. I found myself in a busy intersection (with my windows down) blaring "Cecilia". I swear that I've never recieved so many strange looks in my life. But the thing about being a geek, I didn't turn it down. I'm very proud of being the guy who blares other music than Rap and Screamo. Just thought I'd share that wonderfully dorky moment with you all. And on a side note, this is in my top five greatest live albums of all time right behind Frampton Comes Alive.

Vegas Baby!

2008-05-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

Alright, I can't wait any longer. In two weeks We'll be taking our summer vacation. Las Vegas here we come! We're driving to Texas to see Rachel's Aunt and Uncle then flying to Vegas for four days. We are staying at Mandalay Bay, which I heard is one of the nicest hotels around. I hope these two weeks go by fast.

Bottlecap found!

2008-05-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

I found the bottlecap on a bottlecap collection site. The picture is Adolphus Busch as a middle aged man. This cap was apparently circulated in the 1960s on a special edition bottle of beer. If this was in mint condition it would be worth about 30dollars. So apparently this old closet in this building hasn't been cleaned in forty plus years, and someone was drinking at work, tisk tisk. It's so amazing what the Internet can do isn't it?

history in a bottle, well on top of a bottle

2008-05-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

Today at work I was cleaning a really old neglected part of our offices that never get used. I mean this part hasn't been cleaned in a long stinkin time. Well I found an old bottle cap with a very interesting picture on it. This got me thinking about how old this was, and what the world was like when the person uncapped it. I plan on trying to find out what it went to and how old it is. I'll be sure to post the results when I find out. I know I'm kind of a geek, but I find these things interesting.

Leap of Faith

2008-05-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

Wow, I did it. I took a leap of faith. I'm still hanging in the air, wondering if I will land safely. I made a decicion to cut a friend out of my life. This was hard, I've never had to self-inflict such pain. Kevin was my best friend, Ever. But like a patient has to cut a diseased limb from their body in order to prevent the disease from spreading to the entire body, I had to cut Kevin out of my life. I've been in this weird mood for two days now, and I don't see it ending anytime soon. I will find it hard to live without Kevin, and his comradery. But like I have done before, I will persevere.

Tide began to rise

2008-05-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

Today was a particularly hard day for a friendship to bear. I have now experienced first hand the horrific consequence that divorce can lead to. Rachel and I have been torn between two friends who have been divorced for 8 months now. This situation has ultimately drawn Rachel and I to evaluate our relationship and figure out how we can move on with our lives after dealing with the divorce of our best friends. Sometimes life isn't pretty, and all we can do is try to move on and not allow these childish games to infect our lives. This is a song that I have chosen to describe the way our lives have been affected by this chain of events. All we can do is wish the best for both of them.

The Tide Began to Rise
Lyrics by Ryan Clark of Demon hunter
Click here to listen to the song
I don't belong here
I never saw this on the path I walk
The blood-stained walls, the lines of chalk on the floor
It's getting so hard
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I can't remember
The way it was when everything felt right
My mouth held shut and my eyes sealed tight with control

So I remember on the inside

I found a dark, infernal place I don't want to face anymore
Somehow, I won't stop feeding the pain
My heart's just the same as before

So now I'm stuck here
Between the guilty and the insincere
The words I spoke have left me here all alone
I should have known this
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I wish it all gone
I could've burned it when I had the choice
And now I'd die to kill the noise in my head

So I remember on the inside

I found a dark, infernal place I don't want to face anymore
Somehow, I won't stop feeding the pain
My heart's just the same as before

So I remember on the inside

If this is all the love my spirit can give
Just take it back tonight
There is not a reason more to live

filling the hole in the Garden

2008-05-04T05:50:00.000-07:00

After all of the Plants have been planted and have started maturing, I have the green thumb fever. I've cultivated about 70 square feet and there is still about 20 left that has no plants. Now, Cultivating should not be in vain especially if done by hand. I went on a mission to find something else to fill this hole, and eggplant is what I found. I know, I know, EGGPLANT!?!? if you don't like eggplant, you haven't had it cooked properly. I recently discovered this tasty veggie at the local Macaroni Grill. I was hooked, it's really not too dificult to cook either. I use eggplant in place of meat when Rachel and I want a healthier dinner. The best I've found is breaded and sauteed, then placed on top of pasta with a red tomato sauce. I'm making my self hungry. I also picked up some Strawberry plants. I've always wanted to plant some strawberries simply because they are like tomatoes, there is always some to be picked. I love this nonstop excuse to eat fresh picked strawberries. Keep your fingers crossed Osborns and Wells'. with any luck we're gonna have some good strawberry desserts for sunday night dinners this year. I'm so excited to grow these new endeavor veggies and fruits. Now I get to go plant them.

Fun in the sun (with a camera and Dandilions)

2008-05-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

I was messing around with the camera today and came up with a really good picture of this Dandilion. See, sometimes dandilions can be pretty, you just have to get close enough to see. I hope you like it.

2008-05-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

I know this is a touchy subject, Politics can stir up a lot of emotions and conflict.
This evening Rachel and I were in a fairly heated political debate that kept leading to louder and more hateful tones in our voice. I respect personal opinion as much as anybody and realize that not all share the same views as I do. But in certain situations we all need to respect the views of others and remember why you are friends instead of wondering why this person has such views. Maybe I just need to get this off of my chest, but I don't believe anybody is happy about our current economic situation. I realize that an economic stimulus is a failsafe way to make people feel better about Dubyah. But I think it is fairly obvious that throwing money at a bad situation defines what is wrong with this current administration. I believe that all of the presidential candidates are more than capable of filling a seat in the White House. But what we should ask ourselves is who will make the most difference for the good of the economy, and the welfare of the people WHO ARE CITIZENS IN OUR COUNTRY. I know I stressed this in a previous blog, but be sure you are sure you are voting for the right person for the job, not who is right for you. If I thought that a republican could run the country better than a democrat (highly unlikely) I would have no problem voting for them. I am a proud and outright Libertarian, but will always chose the candidate best suited for the job. thanks for reading this if you made it to the end. I know I rave a lot, but I have a right, and a determination to support those rights.

The Blue Man group

2008-04-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's not everyday, you get to see a show that rivals the caliber of The Blue Man Group. I was lucky enough to do something not many people can. Our friends happen to be good friends with one specific Blue Man, and he was gracious enough to get us comp tickets to see their tour coming through Columbia. Afterwards we were allowed to meet all of the blue men and the Band Backstage. but no it doesn't end there, After the other lucky people got done recieving autographs(which consists of the blue men making finger marks and kissy lips on the paper) we followed them back to the dressing room where we spent the evening having a blast with the other Blue Men. it was kinda like "inside the actor's studio" but with musicians. After they got all of their make up off we got to know the others, and enjoy some interesting conversation with some of the most demanded artists in the world.

the Photo above is a picture of the gang at the Bengal Bar and Grill. We had dinner with Mark before the show so we didn't have to only see him around his fellow blue men. if you have never seen the Blue men live, you might not know that they must remain "in character" until they are away from the fans. This specific character consists of being ultimately curious about the world around them, and acting in complete curious surprise about people, technology and movement. The picture below is Mark trying to figure out what makes the bright light flash on my camera (this was while he was still in character).

This was absolutely an experience of a lifetime! I will never forget this for the rest of my life. and I thank all of those who made this possible. Mark, the Minards, and the Blue Man crew for being fantastic!

Breakfast Creations

2008-04-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know it's not a food blog, but I tend to get a little creative with breakfast on the weekend. I never go anywhere to get anything extra because my motto with breakfast is- If it's not in the house, I'm not eating breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so it should be treated like any other meal(especially on weekends when I'm not in a rush). I love finding anything I can to throw in a pan with eggs and potatoes...oh and cheese, you can never forget the cheese. This picture is my invention this morning, it is a egg and cheese sandwich with creole potato slices. I spent three hours at the auto mechanic waiting for new tires to be put on. I stirred up quite a hunger in the waiting room. I have to say, it was pretty good. I'll admit some of my morning creations quickly end up in the trash, but this one was exceptionally good. Now I can start my day.

sweet sweet nectar

2008-04-25T09:30:00.001-07:00

If I could inject this directly into my blood stream without surely dying a painful death... I would. or maybe a drip, well then I couldn't taste it. Anywho, this stuff kicks buns!

Blue Man in Columbia

2008-04-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

So I've been to a lot of concerts in my life. but this one just might take the cake. We're going to see Blue Man in Columbia on saturday. Don't you wish you were me? Mwah, ha ha(evil laugh)

Cycling the Greenways

2008-04-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Man, is the weather awesome or what? Yesterday evening I got a "hand-me-down" bike from my dad's. This bike has a fair bit of history behind it and we didn't want to see it in the trash now did we? I graciously took it off his hands to see what I could do with it, and really it's in great working order. A couple of the gears slipped but a crank of the wrench and they were fine. I just took it out to see how it did on the open road, and ended up on the Ozark greenways. I've never been on this stretch of trail before so I just kept riding. Later I realized how far I was away from springfield, I started seeing landmarks I had never seen before, and the numbers painted on the pavement just kept growing. Any one person of normal intelligence would put two and two together and realize "huh, maybe these are mile markers, and maybe I've gone from where it said 1.6 to 6.8, wow, I'm farther than I thought" God I'm dumb somteimes. So after my impromptu 10.5 mile bike ride, I feel like jelly, and smell like a stinky butt-crack. But man was it fun, I think I'll do it tommorrow.

2008-04-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well, once again this year Rock and Ribs was a huge hit. A sea of tents, all with award winning barbeque took aim at the first place trophy. Hell's Crematorium (bottom) won my vote in the pulled pork category, and the publicly acclaimed "scientist of BBQ" (left) won my vote for Brisket and sauce category. He really is a scientist of BBQ, he's got about 6 thermometers and little gadgets all over the place. With the medical gloves, I think you could call him the "Mad Scientist of BBQ" I've never tasted such an array of delicious meat in my life. Of course there were plenty of bad ones too, but you just move on to the next tent and try something else. I'll tell you what I think about festivals like this, Live music, nice weather, good BBQ, and plenty of good conversation with the top BBQers in the country, I'd say it doesn't get much better than this.

2008-04-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well, the seeds have been sown, and the seedlings are growing bigger. I finally got my garden planted today, all it took was some will-power and a little... no a lot of elbow grease. Hopefully soon I'll have so many veggies that I'm giving them away. I'm going to try to do some canning on the beans and tomatoes, but the spinach and peppers and everything else will have to be used or given away. so get ready to take some veggies off of my hands (I don't think Rachel (my sister) will complain) wow did I just use a parenthises inside another, don't think I've ever had to do that.

2008-04-18T21:09:00.001-07:00

Join us if you can!! Bass Pro Shops

Patriotic Duty

2008-04-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

Now is the time of the year when the presidential election is getting heated and downright cut-throat. I believe that we all should show our support for our candidates whomever it may be. Put up banners, join a call list, even reminding others about patriotic duties (kinda like what I'm doing right now) whatever you can. I've been sending e-mails for a certain campaign myself, and find it very rewarding to help wherever I can. I encourage you to the same this election, it really does make a difference. We can bring this economy back from the dead, and end this war!

Chillin outside with the dogs.

2008-04-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Thank God! The weather has finally warmed up and stopped raining. This is the time of year that I love most. Afternoons and weekends usually begin to consist of BBQing, Mowing the lawn and doing drills with Marley (Above). I'm so glad I can put the dogs outside and let them entertain themselves for once, Heck, I seem to keep pretty busy outside this time too. I'm planting the garden this week, and for some reason I thought it would be "fun" to cultivate it by hand this year... HA! Blisters suck, but organic Veggies are YUM!

Dachshunds = vulgar puns

2008-04-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

As most know, Rachel and I have two little Dachshunds, Bella and her daughter Dora. We got in a Laughing fit about some funny puns that we were making up. I'll Be honest, they are funny little dogs with big hearts and wonderful senses of humor, so I think if they could understand us, they would probably laugh at themselves. Here are some funny ones.
1- My Weiner is famous in Germany
2- My Wiener is short but it sure is skinny.
3- My wiener is short but it's still taller than the Minard twins (inside joke)
4- Would you like to pet my wiener?
5- Would you like to pet my speckled wiener (dora is Dappled)
6- I have two wieners
7- When my Wiener gets excited, it pees
8-My Wiener had sex with another Wiener, and made a third Wiener
9-(my favorite) I post pictures of my wiener on the internet.
10- people say that my Wieners are cute (I think so too)

Coming through the speakers

2008-04-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

All I can say, is WOW. Released October 1st, 2007, I bought this album a couple of weeks later and never gave it a good listen. Recently, It earned a spot in my Car CD player(where it stayed for some time). Well known activist, philanthropist, and fund raiser for the world-wide HIV/AIDS awareness organization, Annie Lennox' new album "Songs of Mass Destruction" is chocked full of songs that bring awareness, hope, and inspiration for a world in need. Check it out, I know you'll like it. NAte

Welcome to My Darkroom

2008-04-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

This is my first official Blog in my darkroom. Firstly, I would like to say Welcome! I Think you all should know a bit about what you can expect from my Darkroom. I am an enthusiast of life, and life experience. As you might be able to tell, this is a metaphorical darkroom. In the process of making a final print there is an original inspiration. It is Placed into a medium and then creatively tweaked to create a print. Life is my inspiration, The medium is my perception, and the final print is my Blog. I hope you enjoy my Ravings.