A church that isn't afraid to....

First, let me say that my church (Seventh-Day Adventist or SDA) for the most part is very conservative. Music that speaks about God and Life, doesn't necessarily have to be specifically a "Christian" song. Many of our songs in the "secular" world do speak to many of us about God, and so, my church is very intentional when it chooses music that is played as a special or background music. So here's a partial list of the songs we've played in church.

Some of the "secular" music we have played at my church are:
Fragile-Sting
Dead Man's Rope - Sting
Whenever I Say Your name - Sting
Lean on Me - Bill Withers
Pride - U2
Grace - U2
40 - U2
Switchfoot... various (obviously Switchfoot has many christian lyrical content)
Sarah MacLachlan - World on Fire
Sarah McLachlan - Fallen
Sarah McLachlan - Sweet Surrender
Pat Metheny Group - Letter From Home
Pat Metheny - Thanksgiving
Pat Metheny Group - The Falcon
Pat Methny Group - The Bat Part II
Pat Methny Group - Estupenda Graca (Amazing Grace)
Depeche Mode - Waiting for the Night (Bare)
Supertramp - Lord Is It Mine
James Ingram - Ya Mo Be There
Take Six
Sigur Ros
Imogen Heap
Coldplay - Fix You
Coldplay - Talk
Larry Carlton
Richard Souther
Douglas Trowbridge
Hadley Hockensmith
Dave Grusin

Saturday at the Park

it was a pretty late afternoon picnic at the park. this park is actually a private park which belong to the various homes in Highland, CA. One of our friends had her 50th birthday in the park. here is a photo of a young girl fishing.

Sound of Settling

I'm pondering about my age and the future... and I wonder if the song from DCFC Sound of Settling really hits it on the head?
------------------------Sound of Settling by Death Cab for Cutie------------------------------
I've got a hunger
Twisting my stomach into knots
That my tongue has tied off

My brain's repeating
"If you've got an impulse let it out"
But they never make it past my mouth.

Bop ba Bop ba, this is the sound of settling
Bop ba, Bop ba
(x2)

Our youth is fleeting
Old age is just around the bend
And I can't wait to go gray

And I'll sit and wonder
Of every love that could've been
If I'd only thought of something charming to say.

Bop ba Bop ba, this is the sound of settling
Bop ba, Bop ba
(x4)

i've got a hunger twisting my stomach into knots.

I need you so much closer. . .

a sentiment that many of us feel when the one we love is so far away. Long distance relationships can relate to this song by Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism.
Note: This song has to be experienced live.

TRANSATLANTICSM by Death Cab for Cutie

The Atlantic was born today, and I'll tell you how:
The clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole.
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean,
Making islands where no island should go.
Oh no.

Most people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flat lands to your door
Have been silenced forever more.
The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row
It seems farther than ever before
Oh no.

I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer

I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer

So come on, come on
So come on, come on
So come on, come on
So come on, come on

Another photo of Nick (DCFC)

This is Nick in action from the DCFC Berkeley show

Finally a rare "focused" photo of Nick.

DCFC San Diego!!!

What a beautiful setting for the last concert of the west coast tour for DCFC. San Diego Marina, behind the Convention Center.
Ben's stack of guitars.
Our group. Aaron's two friends Courtney (looking away--camera shy), Lindsey, and me of course. In the front row! Best show yet!!
The crowd filling up the venue.

China Town San Francisco

Death Cab For Cutie Pix!

Jason - drummer would have been cooler to see him more often, but standing near the stage was not possible.
Nick- reminded me of the tazmanian devil of Warner Brother cartoon fame, had the front of the stage where he vigorously and enthusiastically played. Amazing amount of energy.
Chris - on the right side facing the stage (guitar/vocals/keys) was interesting to watch. On Soul Meets Body, he would hold up his left hand as he sang the octave falsetto with head phones. The way he struts on the stage looked very stiff but unique. His luscious guitar licks in several songs made my neck tingle.
Ben - the heart of Death Cab for Cutie (front man/guitar/keys) was amazing to watch. Full of energy and literally drenched and dripping of sweat, was vocally perfect. I was amazed at the energy of the band. His birthday apparently was that evening and he was in the Bay Area on his birthday apparently last year.


Aaron and I actually the 2nd night photo where he stood about 30 feet from the stage to see the whole stage better. I sat on the throne seats about where the sound man was. :)

Aug 11 Spoon

Spoon played next. From where I was standing the stage floor was too high to really see the drummer. I typically want to see the amps and equipment bands use, but I was ok with being up close for now. I figure I would see them again the next evening and sit further back. Those throne seats that Ben said that looked like gian toilet seats look about just right.

Any way back to Spoon. A band who I didn't really know about except my son knew them better than I. Although most of the songs they sang was not to familiar with him neither. I did recognize two songs: I Turn my Camera On (recently featured on a car commercial...) and I Summon You.

Mates of State

Mates of State started the evening off with the Husband and Wife team. Delicious vocals. tip: if you're gonna stand at the very front of the stage, you cannot see the back of the stage where drummers usually sit. It would have been preferrable to stand maybe about 40 feet back to see everything. Take a look at the photos... this is as close as you can get. :)

DeathCabForCutie-Greek Theater Aug 11

Sitting up right against the front stage looking out at the ampitheater filling up. It's almost show time. We had waited since 3 pm to get in line, and we were at the front row! the show is about to start. First to open is Mates of State, then Spoon, then... Death Cab for Cutie!~~

The Apple HQ Cafeteria - Yummy!

Standing outside Apple's Cafe (cafeteria) at lunch time.


Aaron lining up at one of 4-5 stations where they cook the food to order. :)

Here's what Aaron got... yummy! Cooked in a wood-fire oven.

Mothership

Friday we met up with one of my friends that works at Apple HQ in Cupertino. Here's a cool t-shirt from the corporate store. :)

just a sampling of the food...at cesars

Cesar's Bar action

This place was busy and for good reason... the bar was lively and the people seemed to be enjoying themselves. The wait was an hour, but since we were vacationing and not in a rush, we felt it was worth our wait to be seated. Some of the negative reviews dated back in the early days, but all I see now are positive reviews. The service was excellent despite how busy it was.

Cesars a delicious affair in portions...

It was almost 9:00 pm and Aaron and I were looking for something different for dinner. Originally we were going to have an italian pasta-type dinner, and picked this place cuz it looked busy. Right next to the more well-respected Chez Panisse, Cesars is basically a bar and a one big room of tables. They serve mediterranean tapas and small bites. This was definitely a fun place, albeit a bit noisy and I hear the drinks are incredible.

It may as well be haunted. . .

the Buildings in Berkeley exudes history. this one definitely looked haunted.

Psychedelic walls in Haight Ashbury

Haight Ashbury's Amoeba Records

Once a bowling alley now houses one of the biggest record stores I've seen.
wow!

Haight Ashbury

One cannot visit the Bay Area without going to Haight Ashbury...in the bygone era was the home of the beatnicks and hippies. Now it still has its eccentricities and quaint shops and interesting people.

Day 1 Coit Tower near FCD

Aaron sits on stairstep just outside the little park. Behind is the Coit Tower . It was a beautiful day.

Flowers while waiting at FCD_SF

We were waiting for our table outside Fog City Diner, and right around the corner was a nice little walking park. I noticed a few joggers come through the park. I came across this flower with a bee.

day 1 - lunch at our favorite place

It was nearyly ten years ago when we first visted S.F. and stopped to eat lunch at our favorite place. Fog City Diner, in the heart of the embarcadero (near the Piears).
It was a quiet Thursday morning and we had gotten there about 1100 am, but waited till they opened up at 1130.

Oakland Bay Bridge view

A view driving into S.F.

Castle Park is huge!

This is probably the best miniature golf place in the IE. :)

Miniature Golf Last Night.

It was kids night and I helped transport a couple of Aaron's friends to miniture golf. It was a fun night and I think I had the best score of our group... but really we didn't keep score.
It's been awhile since I went miniature golfing. Almost thought of as a amusement for kids, playing last night brought back memories of when I was younger and took Aaron there to play and to just hang out. I think miniature golf is fun for even a first date. It allows you to talk, and get to know the other person.

DeathCabForCutie Tix

They finall came in the mail today! yeah! This is so exciting. We're taking off August 10 and flying into Oakland... gonna check out Apple HQ in Cupertino... site see... and then line up early Friday morning.

I hope they let us take photos... :/