Untitled

there’s a dead bird in my driveway

jan-uary:

Today, as I was wheeling my bike up my driveway, I spotted a little bird’s corpse laying on the cement.  On its back with its wings stretched out, its feathers were almost completely decayed-brown, so it’s hollow ribcage peeked out from the chest.  Promptly, I dropped my bike and grabbed a long rusted shovel from the garage.  I inched the bird on the shovel’s plate.  This process reminded me something of taking cookies out of an oven.  I think because the bird wouldn’t completely get on the shovel until I nudged his delicate head against the grass lining my driveway.  Like when you can’t get a grip on the cookie pan, you find yourself nudging the pan against the back of the oven.  I walked around the house, and let the bird fly into the woods.  I tossed him up into the air with my shovel.  He did about three stiff spins before landing in a heap of brush.  Some dust billowed up with his thump.

this hits home with me, i like it.

Running List of songs (in no particular order)

it’s about dag-on time i did this, before i forget.

• When I wake up
• CU in the morning (nights w/o u are so boring)
• Smitten, Frost Bitten
• Sour in My Sweet
• 2 Bitter 4 Talking
• Begged 4 Better
• Hit the Cruise
• Cannon In E
• Blueberries
• Someday
• Laurel Hay
• Soarin’
• Abyss of Bliss
• Tell the Kids the Truth (eyes suprisin’ you)
• Canadian Thunder
• Forgive Me
• Stay Young
• Started Cutting
• Arrow
• Eager to Argue
• Teeter Toward (Lord As My Light)
• Oh My Lord
• Soo Pretty
• Intoxication
• Toast!
• Same Page
• President
• Thinkin’ Lincoln
• Still In Store
• Die Trying
• Gray
• Parasites
• 1 B4 Bed
• Nothing I Didn’t
• Born Branded
• Clear Water
• Enough
• Geraldine
• Getting Used Too
• Inspiring
• No Good
• Notary
• Sip Wine
• Trumpet Sound
• Waiter, Waiter, WAITER!

that’s that.

alittlealotless

(1:17) I think out loud on the page in digital form here. Today I played piano in a practice room and came up with a sweet riff. I had lunch with a sweet girl. I’m debating signing up for medical insurance for 60 dollars a month. It hardly offers any coverage, but I might kick myself if I don’t. I’m working on the Side Project stuff and debating what to do with my life. My life. I’m taking back my life. I’m taking steps towards having my priorities straight, but it’s an uphill slope laced with temptation. I’m dealing in distractions and probably being one myself. I don’t even feel safe typing on here. I don’t understand how anyone opens up knowing people will read it. I feel like a box with a master lock. and the only person with the key doesn’t want to see what’s inside. (10 minutes later) that was a dramatic moment inside my head i’m distraced with other things now i think the secret is to stay busy. but i don’t know if that’s just putting icing on a crap cookie or if i should just bake a new batch. in 10 minutes i’ll be back.

a touch of soul

College Students Script

Why do I follow the Lord?

                He has made Himself apparent to me and deserves to be honored.

But how do I know it’s Him who deserves it?

By taking steps in faith to believe He has made it clear that He is the maker of everything. It’s not even something I could explain: It’s nuances, random occurrences – too many to mention – real personal ties and crazy times where the stars and the moons and all the planets line up that make me never question. For example:

I tithed for the first time the other day and in the Good Book it mentions that the only area we should test God is in giving. So I gave. Not 3 days later I was given a car.

Sounds like a coincidence. Parents give their kids cars all the time.

This wasn’t from my parents. It was from a pastor whom I just happened to meet a select few times. I just casually mentioned in conversation, amongst many other topics, that I was saving up for a car, and he decided to offer his to me.

Who does that?

                EXACTLY!

So, that was just a random happening. Could happen to anyone and that alone makes you believe in some all knowing being?

Amongst other things.  Like I said – personal ties – these are common occurrences in the life of a Lord lover.

Ask for More

A wise woman once told me the benefits of venting.

I feel I’m forcing it.

I feel it’s something I can work at though.

I’m leery, but willing to try.

This seems like the way almost anything is rationalized: Not because of intellect, but emotion or relationships.

Regardless, I’m effort-ing.

God has been stretching me a lot lately. Uncovering aspects of my life only He truly understands. One of those is my arrogance, which is where this all started.

(aside) - a parable

It began with a book and a bit of advice. She said, “Instead of reading 10 books at once, stop reading all the books you are now pick up a new one and read it exclusively.” Simply ridiculous, I replied. Why would I want to add more to the stack?

A man attended a church of many with his mother. Upon the end of service attempted approaching various persons about the building. All seemingly preoccupied, when a light shines on a certain bookshelf: illuminating a certain book: “Practicing of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. Bland looking, enticing, none-the-less I recall the Maidens mad-lib and make in impulse buy.

A man, working in a monotonous environment justifies not paying attention by his subconscious arrogance. “I don’t need to hear this because _____” = arrogance.  Out of respect you do need to hear it.

The book, about calling to God in every endeavor, had a monotony of its own in the form of an overall theme: suffering is strengthening. Thriving on incessant prayer the monk went about his business washing dishes, simply thankful.

The job, endured upon the principal, and the counsel of a certain Maiden Fair, not for long. But long enough.

A week or so after being fired of his own arrogance, God made the most of the ill circumstances and aligned a friendship, attributed to, once again the Maiden. The friendship formed an opportunity to travel to Missouri. A state that sounded … well, it was somewhere. On a whim we went, Maiden attended too.

James 4:17 It is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. - Under the role of obedience a mentor, heeding the Lords beck and call, appeared from the fog of the Ozark hills and called to man and Maiden, “The Lord is looking for people to speak out, and what they say could spare a nation.” He spoke of the importance of spiritual gifts: his being dream interpretation… Something only spoke of in the “metaphors” about the Bible…. right?

Wrong

Gifts of the spirit, something rarely spoke of, now enlightened.

Wow.

Mr. Mentor spoke of approaching fellow pastors regarding gifts of spirit:

Mentor-“Do you have anyone who perform healings?

Comrade- “No”

Mentor - “How about prophesize?”

Comrade- “No”

Mentor - “How about dream interpretation?”

Comrade- “Well, No, but we have 5 guitarists, 3 drummers, and 7 singers!”

It’s funny where the focus is.

Spiritual gifts are not sought.

James 4:2 You have not because you ask not.

We believe in the Good Book supposedly, but approach it with a buffet bar attitude, picking and choosing parts which fit our fancy. If ignorance is your plea that’s fine with me but: “To whom much is given much is required.” Consider this a gift. Now what’s your excuse?

Ask for more!

Updated: 8/29/2008 3:47:01 PM                                               PRINT | EMAIL | COMMENT

City: Chippewa Falls.

Members: Alyssa Rieper on guitar and vocals; and Johanne Swanson on keyboards, accordion and vocals.

Together since: This summer.

Style: Folk pop.

Influences: Joni Mitchell, Iron and Wine, Rilo Kiley.

Web site: www.myspace.com/feathe.

Next gig: 7 tonight at Acoustic Cafe, 505 S. Barstow St. All ages. Free. 832-9090.

Backstage Pass is a regular feature that showcases Chippewa Valley bands. If your band would like to be featured, send e-mail to rob.hanson@ecpc.com.

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Backstage Pass

Feathe members Alyssa Rieper and Johanne Swanson have done the full-band thing.

And like many musicians, they wanted out of the drama and creative control issues.

Their solution: An intimate duo that is as much friendship as musical act.

“We were friends before we started making music together, and I think that’s what helps us out so much,” said Swanson.

And that intimacy is what allows their creativity to flow.

“Lately it’s been pretty equal as far as making music,” said Rieper. “I made a couple songs recently on guitar, and she’ll add a lot of harmony.”

Their style, although a bit stripped down, is another example of the wave of indie pop folk that has washed over the Chippewa Valley - a genre that lacks a definitive title but has become a local favorite.

Swanson said Feathe’s music at times reminds her of the early days of the band Iron and Wine - one of her favorites.

“Alyssa comes to me with songs in a like, really skeletal form, and I help with arranging and adding,” she said.

As for the eccentric band name, it came when a distracted Rieper was writing in her journal and failed to finish a sentence. Days later, what was meant to be “feather” read “feathe.” And it stuck.

Feathe has done home recordings but isn’t in a hurry to lay down tracks in the studio.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the duo doesn’t have a goal.

“I guess we just want to be known locally,” said Swanson. “It’s not so much that we want to be heard. I think it’s just that we want to share our craft with other people.”