What a great night.
As I have mentioned in the past, Clay Leverett, my step-brother, has been touring with Bright Eyes during the fall. He's been having a blast.
Beth and I, two days ago, was able to see Bright Eyes in Birmingham, AL. However, unbeknown to us, Clay was able to get us backstage passes.
We arrived a couple hours before showtime, but Clay took us back to the tour bus where we hung out and chatted. While talking, Conor Oberst came onto the bus chatted a little as well. I will admit, there was a side of me that wanted to let him know how big of a fan I was and how incredible I thought he was, blah blah blah, but there was another side of me that (thankfully) wouldn't allow it. It would have been forced, and totally destroyed the calm, cool, and collected vibe I was desperately trying to emit. Beth did compliment Oberst's boots, and began a conversation about cowboys, rodeos, and etc.
Later, before the show started, Clay took us backstage and showed us around. Afterwards, he took us to ours seats--(THE SECOND ROW), and we watched away. The Felice Brothers, the first opening act, were great. They had this energy and quirkiness that was incredibly fun to watch.
Maria Taylor followed them (with help from Andy LeMaster), and it was a great performance.
Bright Eyes..... what can I say. It was phenomenal. Clay drummed and also provided background vocals. I have snippets of particular songs that should be going online today for you to check out. I was very disappointed with the recorded audio (because we were close to the front, the camera's audio from the show was overmodulated and distorted at times), but I may try to fix it and get out a second edit of all of the video. We'll see.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The Craziness
Well, this week, although beginning relatively like any other week, has taken a rather strange turn.
I must say from the offset, I am just reporting this as a secondhand witness--I was there for none of it.
As I have mentioned in the past, Beth's work has been barraged by criminal activities, from stolen cars and vans, to stolen laptops, to people being held up at gunpoint. The last reference in particular was just a couple blogs ago, where one person (one of the thieves) was killed by the self-defense of a worker. In this particular robbery, one of the burglars got away.
As it turns out, this burglar that wasn't caught was one of the most wanted people in Clarkston and Dekalb County. He had already killed a woman in a bank robbery, killed another woman in a parking lot, beat up three men mowing and landscaping a lawn, and etc. Well, this past tuesday night he decided to steal an AK-47.
On Wednesday morning, this man set out to get his revenge on the non-profit organization (my wife and all employees included). He scouted out the area, and tried to get other people to help him out (offering them $100, by the way). Luckily, a witness to this was able to run over to where Beth's work and let them know. The powers called the police, and a group of police officers, FBI, and SWAT teams assembled. After tense hours, the SWAT team stormed the building he had hid in, and arrested him without a single shot being fired (either way).
Because of all the mayhem, the organization was closed on Thursday and Friday.
Please pray for everyone. People are shaken a little, but they're back at work this week. Right now people think everything has quieted and should remain that way.
I must say from the offset, I am just reporting this as a secondhand witness--I was there for none of it.
As I have mentioned in the past, Beth's work has been barraged by criminal activities, from stolen cars and vans, to stolen laptops, to people being held up at gunpoint. The last reference in particular was just a couple blogs ago, where one person (one of the thieves) was killed by the self-defense of a worker. In this particular robbery, one of the burglars got away.
As it turns out, this burglar that wasn't caught was one of the most wanted people in Clarkston and Dekalb County. He had already killed a woman in a bank robbery, killed another woman in a parking lot, beat up three men mowing and landscaping a lawn, and etc. Well, this past tuesday night he decided to steal an AK-47.
On Wednesday morning, this man set out to get his revenge on the non-profit organization (my wife and all employees included). He scouted out the area, and tried to get other people to help him out (offering them $100, by the way). Luckily, a witness to this was able to run over to where Beth's work and let them know. The powers called the police, and a group of police officers, FBI, and SWAT teams assembled. After tense hours, the SWAT team stormed the building he had hid in, and arrested him without a single shot being fired (either way).
Because of all the mayhem, the organization was closed on Thursday and Friday.
Please pray for everyone. People are shaken a little, but they're back at work this week. Right now people think everything has quieted and should remain that way.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Back from Belize
Beth and I have safely returned from Belize. We had a pretty amazing time.
I'll get into what exactly we did in the near future. Remember the last post where I talked about all the hold-ups and thefts at World Relief? Well, this happened while we were gone:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2007/10/23/robbershot_1024_web.html
Man shot dead attempting to rob nonprofit
By TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/23/07
An employee of a Stone Mountain nonprofit association that helps war-torn refugees shot and killed a robber who forced his way into the office Tuesday evening around closing time, authorities said.
The robber collapsed and died near a rear door of the World Relief, an immigrant resettlement agency at 655 Village Square Drive, according to DeKalb County police spokesman Marcus Hodge.
Hodge said around 6:30 p.m. the two robbers entered through the rear door as two male employees, described as older men, were preparing to leave and lock the front door.
Both robbers were armed with handguns, and one of them acted as a lookout, Hodge said.
The other demanded the victims' wallets, then put his gun to one employee's head and ordered him to open a safe, Hodge said.
When the robber turned his back, the other employee grabbed a gun from his desk and fired several shots at the robber, Hodge said.
Hodge said he did not know how many times the robber was struck, or where he was wounded.
Both robbers ran, though the wounded robber did not make it far. Police were still searching for the second robber late Tuesday.
The name of the employee who shot the robber was not immediately released Tuesday. He had not been charged late Tuesday, Hodge said, because the shooting appears to have been in self-defense.
World Relief, which is the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals in the U.S., has resettled more than 200,000 refugees for nearly 30 years and helped thousands of immigrant families across the country, according to its Web site.
The ministry was established in 1944 to send clothing and food to victims of World War II. Its name was changed from War Relief to World Relief in 1950 as the group's focus evolved, according to the Web site.
I'll get into what exactly we did in the near future. Remember the last post where I talked about all the hold-ups and thefts at World Relief? Well, this happened while we were gone:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2007/10/23/robbershot_1024_web.html
Man shot dead attempting to rob nonprofit
By TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/23/07
An employee of a Stone Mountain nonprofit association that helps war-torn refugees shot and killed a robber who forced his way into the office Tuesday evening around closing time, authorities said.
The robber collapsed and died near a rear door of the World Relief, an immigrant resettlement agency at 655 Village Square Drive, according to DeKalb County police spokesman Marcus Hodge.
Hodge said around 6:30 p.m. the two robbers entered through the rear door as two male employees, described as older men, were preparing to leave and lock the front door.
Both robbers were armed with handguns, and one of them acted as a lookout, Hodge said.
The other demanded the victims' wallets, then put his gun to one employee's head and ordered him to open a safe, Hodge said.
When the robber turned his back, the other employee grabbed a gun from his desk and fired several shots at the robber, Hodge said.
Hodge said he did not know how many times the robber was struck, or where he was wounded.
Both robbers ran, though the wounded robber did not make it far. Police were still searching for the second robber late Tuesday.
The name of the employee who shot the robber was not immediately released Tuesday. He had not been charged late Tuesday, Hodge said, because the shooting appears to have been in self-defense.
World Relief, which is the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals in the U.S., has resettled more than 200,000 refugees for nearly 30 years and helped thousands of immigrant families across the country, according to its Web site.
The ministry was established in 1944 to send clothing and food to victims of World War II. Its name was changed from War Relief to World Relief in 1950 as the group's focus evolved, according to the Web site.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Pray for World Relief
Hey guys.
If you can, please pray for Beth and everyone at World Relief. This past month, so many crazy things have happened.
A few weeks ago, someone's car was stolen right in front of him.
A week ago, the World Relief van was stolen and wrecked during the night.
Yesterday night, World Relief was broken into where laptops and other items were stolen.
Today someone was held up at gunpoint outside World Relief.
If you can, please pray for Beth and everyone at World Relief. This past month, so many crazy things have happened.
A few weeks ago, someone's car was stolen right in front of him.
A week ago, the World Relief van was stolen and wrecked during the night.
Yesterday night, World Relief was broken into where laptops and other items were stolen.
Today someone was held up at gunpoint outside World Relief.
"The Three of Us"
Last month, "This American Life"'s website had a contest in which people could remix a song aired on their weekly radio show.
The song is called "The Three of Us," and can be heard HERE.
I managed to submit my own remix. Let me know what you think: http://www.mediafire.com/?3vdaet4ejpi
The song is called "The Three of Us," and can be heard HERE.
I managed to submit my own remix. Let me know what you think: http://www.mediafire.com/?3vdaet4ejpi
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Sputnik's Anniversary
I am pleased to announce that on this day, 50 years ago, Russia's Sputnik was successfully launched into orbit.
On this day, I am also pleased to announce Beth and Tim's addition to the family, Sputnik:
On this day, I am also pleased to announce Beth and Tim's addition to the family, Sputnik:
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
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