:::

"It seems to have been the beginning of everything. The treasures of a new, beautiful world were laid at my feet and I took in pleasure and information at every turn. I lived myself into all things.
I was never still a moment. My life was as full of motion as those little insects that crowd a whole existence into one brief day. I met many people who talked with me by spelling into my hand-and thought in joyous sympathy leaped up to meet thought-and behold a miracle had been wrought-the barren places between my mind and the minds of others blossomed like the rose."

-Helen Keller, The Story of My Life

Dead Man's Bones cover.

So.. how many of you are aware that actor Ryan Gosling has a band?

Dead Man's Bones...

(fronted by him and another actor, Zach Shields.)

It's sort of a spooky/gospely/showtunes-ish type band..
I have no idea how to peg it, but this album is SO good.

Children's choir and everythang! You should go buy it.

Here's my rendition of their song "Lose Your Soul"...Happy Halloween! oh wait.

PS: listen to the original version here.

Much like snow or candlelight, fog makes everything prettier.

the Sunday before last

i'm still looking into it,

but something unusual and very scary happened to me the other morning..

(in complete sobriety)

i woke up with incredible pain in my abdomen.

i was clammy, pouring cold sweats.

i started ripping layer after layer of my winter PJ's off.

then...my hearing went out.

and then... my vision started fading.

i started praying because i thought i was dying!

i began to try and weave my way through the house for help.

then it happened...

two giant glowing-white beings hovered above me, ready to take me to glory.

but then my eyes refocused and i realized,

i had fainted by the washing machine and dryer.

one of my battle wounds from the fall.

Dalí

like a children's book depiction of The Great Flood,

there's always more to the story.

December 1, 2011

gold clouds will usher in the glory

this time

grey skies need me no longer

I looked down and noticed three different Tree references on my bed...

There was a time when this would've put stars in my eyes.

but I don't know what to do with synchronicity anymore.

simple piano song

I Need You Now by Annalisa

so you can read the little bio on this song over on my soundcloud by clicking the link above.

I'm definitely still not done with this song, but I was so tired of not having anything new up online that I thought "what tha heck."

so there ya have it...!

so, I was full fledged working on my EP when my sound-card went out.

so, I ordered another one and just got it in.

but now I've decided that I am going to work on my Dad's EP as my #1 priority for his 60th birthday present. :)

it's something we've wanted to do for a long time.

the man has got a lot of good songs.

good, sweet, smooth, heart-felt songs.

and he means THE WORLD to me...

so I want to make this happen now & get it mastered & possibly talk my buddy that flipsthatU into making him a cool album cover. ;)

I wanna have his songs to pass to the world and pass on to my kiddos one day.

I'll be doing some harmonies with him on it!

It's going to be so special!

My personal EP is not necessarily on the back-burner right now.. just a side burner.. it's kinda on simmer.. and i promise, it smells gooood in tha house.

Dad is #1 right now.

peace!

well hello old friend...
i've missed blogging on this!

i'm back.

Reviews | Josh Garrels – Love & War & The Sea In Between | Indie Vision Music

Reviews | Josh Garrels – Love & War & The Sea In Between | Indie Vision Music

when i was a little Anu, saying "shut up" was an ugly word.
one of my earlier memories is when i was 4 years old.
me and my lil 3 year old brother were playing in the backyard at

our house in Holly Springs, AR.

we started fussing about something & i was driven to my limit (apparently) because i yelled "Shut up Jonathan!"
it was one of those moments where we both sort of froze and our mouths dropped open.
gasp.
then it was on.
"OOOoooo i'm telling mama!!"
and i remember both of us running towards the house and me telling him that he didn't have to tell mom because i was going to wash my own mouth out with soap!
i remember making a mad dash towards the bathroom where i then cleaned my tongue somethin' good on a bar of soap.

but...the little squirt still told my mom. ;)

i have this foggy picture of her at the bathroom door (not mad) and me saying "it's ok Mom, i've already cleaned my mouth out with soap."

makes me wonder if i still do these kind of things on an adult level....

23May11

we used to call my nephew Gavin "Bunny" when he was a baby.

but, we don't call him that much anymore.

tonight the lil 5 year old manboy graduated from pre-school & i wore my rabbit ring!

on the way back home i drove safely up our gravel driveway because often i see rabbits scurrying across the way. (yet another reason why i love Spring!)

but i didn't see any this time.

but then later on in the house, my dad brought in this sweet little bunny that my dog had found.

though he had been tossed around quite a bit by Su, he was still alive.

i called him our graduation bunny!!

and me & Gavs were going to take care of him.

i left him in a warm box so he could relax off any shock.

but the poor little guy didn't make it.

:(

i cried.

but ya know, even through this.. i don't love my dog any less.

it's all part of life.

and life is so strange.

one day there will be no more tears. no more death.

thank you little rabbit baby for being so soft, & for having such a cute cotton tail, & for creating a few brief moments where i could FEEL the realness of life.

support independent music!!

help Matthew Santos make his next album!

check out the video and donate thru Kickstarter via the link below.

this is an incredible singer/songwriter that i've had the opportunity to work with several times and i can tell you that he's not only divinely gifted, but he's also a genuinely kind & generous soul.

10 days left to reach the $20G's goal. all or nothing on the Kickstarter platform.

get on your mark, get set... SUPPORT! :)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/papamgmt/matthew-santos-new-album-w-producer-charles-goodan

timing

Spring Giddiness

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty

and frightened. Don't open the door to the study

and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.

There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don't go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don't go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the doorsill

where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open.

Don't go back to sleep.

I would love to kiss you.

The price of kissing is your life.

Now my loving is running toward my life shouting,

What a bargain, let's buy it.

Daylight, full of small dancing particles

and the one great turning, our souls

are dancing with you, without feet, they dance.

Can you see them when I whisper in your ear?

All day and night, music,

a quiet, bright

reedsong. If it

fades, we fade.

-Jalaluddin Rumi

mother's day

i always liked this picture of my mom hugging my dad...she was going into labor with me.

----------

and here's a beautiful picture of my momma (circa 80's) doing what she does best.

Handmade Spark - little Anu. - jellyfish pillows and home decor

Handmade Spark - little Anu. - jellyfish pillows and home decor

beautiful Urdu.

A Prison Evening

Each star a rung,
night comes down the spiral
staircase of the evening.
The breeze passes by so very close
as if someone just happened to speak of love.
In the courtyard,
the trees are absorbed refugees
embroidering maps of return on the sky.
On the roof,
the moon - lovingly, generously -
is turning the stars
into a dust of sheen.
From every corner, dark-green shadows,
in ripples, come towards me.
At any moment they may break over me,
like the waves of pain each time I remember
this separation from my lover.

This thought keeps consoling me:
though tyrants may command that lamps be smashed
in rooms where lovers are destined to meet,
they cannot snuff out the moon, so today,
nor tomorrow, no tyranny will succeed,
no poison of torture make me bitter,
if just one evening in prison
can be so strangely sweet,
if just one moment anywhere on this earth.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz

woah!!

uh huh her

mix with a match

heer hear,

it very well may be

...a mixed up match.