Tune Tuesday #1

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Welcome to the first Tune Tuesday. You like the alliteration right? I just love it.

So, basically, I love music, all types, all forms, so I’m just going to highlight one of my favorite songs every Tuesday. It’s intended to encourage you to check the band out, look at the lyrics a little closer, or just listen to the song because it’s good (I know it’s good because I like it and all things I like are good, if not great). :)

I hope you enjoy and please leave any comments on the songs; I’d love to hear what you think!

Go

Song: Nothing in My Way
Band: Keane
Album: Under the Iron Sea

The British band Keane is one of my favorites, ever. I adore how they have no guitar and use the classical piano to create such modern music. They had a few big hits last year with “Somewhere Only We Know” and “Sunshine” and I fell in love with them.

“Nothing in My Way” has a kicking beat created with the hammering on the piano that will encourage you to work out in the gym like you never thought possible. The optimistic sound will prompt and encourage you to actually say and believe:

"It's just another day, nothing in my way."

I think the song is actually about two people who were together, but weren’t happy and wouldn’t acknowledge that they weren’t happy. So don’t be in denial and let things fall apart, there’s nothing in your way…get going.

(For complete lyrics, see a video, or listen to the song, just click the name of the song at the top).

End

My future book!

Friday, February 8, 2008

One of my favorite speakers, Clayton King, has a book called Journals of a Madman. It’s a collection of stories he wrote about the most insane, crazy, God-driven moments that have happened to him. Some of them you will not believe unless you see the pictures that go along with them.

Anything from hearing a song he wrote for a wrestler on John Boy and Billy’s national radio broadcast to running from the KPG in Moscow to becoming a king of a country for a day. I mean, these stories are just crazy, even more so because they all happened to one man.

I have decided I want to write a similar book. Except mine won’t be as eccentric, but still filled with some silly, small stories and moments I’ve had thus far. I hope that as I start this new decade of my life (I turned 20 yesterday), that God continues to bring more of these moments because I absolutely love them.

So here are a few brief moments that I will feature in my book. No title ideas yet.
• Yesterday I was serenaded for my birthday at a restaurant. Nothing special right? Well this unique birthday song just happened to be in complete Italian and opera style. It was so pretty and unexpected that I even blushed.

• While in Amsterdam, Netherlands on a very crowded tram last summer, I met a girl that is best friends now (at Clemson University) with some of my closest high school friends. She was studying abroad for a month, I was passing through, she was wearing a Clemson shirt, and I said hello. Small world.

• Witnessing a deathly car accident in which probably changed my spiritual life forever.

• When I tried to persuade our youth minister on a ski trip that one of our “adult chaperones” actually jumped off a snowy hill into a snowy mound but actually landed on some wooden thing and crushed her heel in the process. He didn’t believe me and thought I was enticing them for a snowball fight. It took a good ten minutes to get someone out there and meanwhile the “adult” was in a bit of pain.

• I own a one inch square piece of property in North Pole, Alaska at Santa’s workshop. No joke, I’ve got the paperwork to prove it.

• When I was at an Atlanta Braves’ baseball game, during batting practice I stood in the home-run section in hopes of getting a ball hit to me. Well, I did. One came at me, bounced a few feet before the fence and I guess I judged it all wrong. It bounced up and hit me directly in the chin giving me a good scuff mark and NO BALL because the guy next to me took it!! What a souvenir. But I have gotten several, like when former 3rd base coach Ned Yost asked me if I could catch and threw me one and when former pitcher Jason Marquis threw one at me and when the big guy next to me took it, Marquis pointed at me and made the guy give it to me. Thank goodness I was a cute little girl with her face painted completely red and blue.

So those are just a few of the ridiculous, wonderful stories. I might share some more throughout the blog. :)

Clayton’s stories are so comical, but most of them (except for the moment he was mistaken for Garth Brooks) have some relation with the workings of God. Mine do not…yet. Maybe I just haven’t figured out the meaning yet.

You’ve got to read Clayton’s book, it’s just so amazing and encouraging to see how God can move in crazy ways. I hope it continues in my life!

Let me know if you have any title suggestions.

Worry Free

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

I’m a worry-wart. I always have been, but this past year or so, I’ve really gotten better with it. I always ask myself in a stressful situation, “Is worrying going to help anything?” Usually the answer is no…and I just try to keep my mind off it.

Well I’ve been without a roommate so far this semester, until yesterday. I literally woke up to my RA knocking on the door telling me I was getting a roommate…today, like within the next few hours. Luckily, Gabi was with me to help move some stuff around so that she would have some space.

As I look back on it, I only had about 2 hours to wonder what this girl was like, why she was moving in on a Monday, and if we would be able to get along. Now, if I had been told a few days before, I know it would have been a nightmare. I would have worried myself sick trying to figure out what this girl was like, even though I have absolutely no control over it.

So, God was telling me again, even though He has showed me several times but I’m just too hard-headed to figure it out, that worrying solves nothing.

Look out for a little series I'll call Tune Tuesday coming next week. haha.

Empty Trees

Monday, January 21, 2008

I spent the weekend in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the beautiful mountains. I’ve always had a fascination with trees in the fall and winter. So, I was able to look at them for four straight days.

The fall is a famous transition time for the trees, completely changing colors, but the process is beautiful. The closer it gets to winter, the more colors come about and the more beautiful and unique that tree becomes.

And then winter arrives and all those brightly colored leaves are gone. At first glance they seem empty and cold, but I also find it breathtakingly beautiful and I have just recently discovered why I feel this way.

There is something beautiful about the tree losing everything it has. It’s even more beautiful that it’s able to recover its beauty with just the help of the warm sun to look fresh and renewed.

I love the idea that it takes giving up everything to feel that newness and sense of freshness. The process is hard; it’s not easy giving up things in my life and control of my life. But if I can remember that God will refresh, renew, allow me to bloom and make me beautiful once again just like that tree, I can and will do it.

Lucky trees right?

Continuing to Catch Tales...

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

So I originally created this blog for my media writing class, but I've enjoyed it and decided to jump on the bandwagon for good.

After several days of trying to decide what to name this blog when I first created it (a close second was a Simpler Shade of Happy followed by numerous other ideas my creative brother came up with), I chose Catching Tales because for class, I picked to write about baseball news stories.

So Catching Tales, named after one of my favorite musicians, jazz pianist Jamie Cullum's album title, captured the idea I was seeking.

Now, I'm going to continue using this title, but with a little different twist.

Catching Tales: trying to understand and share "tales" that are constantly around me that draw my heart-filled interest. Anything I hear or see that sparks my curiosity, from news stories, sermons, music lyrics, Bible studies, or even just conversations with friends.

Wish me luck!

Barry Bonds pleads not guilty

Friday, December 7, 2007

Career Home run king* Barry Bonds pleaded not guilty to four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice for supposedly lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

There is no date for a trial, but a status hearing was scheduled for Feb. 7, my birthday! How exciting. Bonds’ lawyer says his client is confident in his decision and that the justice system will bring a good outcome.

Even as Bonds left the court room building, he waved and signed autographs for waiting fans.

The case against Bonds has lasted four years, including the arrest of Bonds’ personal trainer for refusing to testify against Bonds. And it seems like it could continue another four years...Will a decision ever be made? And what will happen to his new records, will they be banished or saved?

The Giants have already notified Bonds that they will not consider bringing him back for a 16th season as a Giant.

Do you think anyone else will want to sign him? Yes, he may bring in fans because of his previous records, but does he have anything left? Or he may end up bringing in more “boo-ers” or non-fans because of his allegations.

I'm not sure any other team is going to pick him up. Certianly if one did, it would be an American League team choosing him as a designated batter. But I don't think anyone is even going to do that.

Any thoughts?

*Assuming he is innocent of his alleged steriod use, if he's guilty, I'm stripping that title away from him.

A-Rod earning more than ever?

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod, and the New York Yankees agreed to a record $275 million 10-year contract. A-Rod is on his way to possibly break Barry Bonds recent record of career home run record. As long as he keeps hitting homers and getting closer to that record, A-Rod could earn millions more.

It seems like some inside work was done for A-Rods contract amount to go up. Basically, A-Rod opted out of his last 3 seasons of his $252 million 10-year contract, but the Yankees would not increase it. Then, A-Rod contacted his friend who just happened to work with a wealth management company in which the Yankees have a close relationship with. She made some phone calls, the Yankees and A-Rod started talking and the proposal is underway. (Click the title of this blog to find out more).

The increase in pay is not official yet and still has to be looked over carefully in order to abide by sticky MLB rules.

Shame on A-Rod for thinking his $252 million paycheck isn’t enough. That’s $25.2 million a year. Did he really just ask for more? I know he’s talented and on his way to be a record-breaker, but that’s ridiculously selfish.

Now I just think less of A-Rod than I did before, I didn’t think much of him before.